The complimentary sense is completely blocked by context here:

> The problem is ______.

Not totally. The problem is [that you're awesome] and people find you intimidating (or something).

I suppose it could be made up or embellished, but I don't think it's the most wildly implausible thing ever (unlike @woodman).

Well shoot, you keep producing plausible explanations: so now he might be so narcissistic that he thinks the reason he can't find capable subordinates is because people are intimidated by his awesomeness.