Nice
guys finish last” has been one of the proverbs which have defined our
lives in the modern age. First said by a frustrated American baseball
coach Leo Durocher about his team Dodgers, it has been quite a truth in
the big bad worlds of business, politics, sports and everything else.
They make sense inside our offices too. We decided to introspect…
Anyone
who has ever watched The Apprentice would know, that business is a
tough game to play. Sometimes it may seem like getting some brownie
points in the game requires putting your interests above those of
others and capitalising on the misfortune of fellow workers.
But is it really true that nice guys finish last at work? Not likely.
COLLEAGUE CONNECT
Carrying
a positive, friendly temperament can be as valuable a career asset for
you as your loaded resume. In fact, a study published in the Harvard
Business Review found that personal feelings toward an individual are
more significant in the formation of productive work relationships than
how competent the person is.
Your ability to connect with others
is especially important as the business world becomes increasingly
global and companies seek individuals who can collaborate with diverse
teams of employees and outside contacts. It is no understatement that
those who are pleasant and easy to get along with will have the
greatest success in forming effective professional partnerships.
However,
'being nice' boils down to just a few key factors, including respecting
the opinions of co-workers, offering to lend colleagues a hand when
needed and being courteous in all of your interactions.
ARE YOU JUST ‘NICE’ OR A PUSHOVER?
If
you nodded your head at the earlier point, you better know the
difference between being nice and being a pushover. Take this: You may
try very hard to be liked that you seem artful or, in times of
uncertainty or transition, out of touch with reality. And some
professional situations simply require you to take a stand, even if
you'd prefer not to. Being overly accommodating also can cause you to
shoulder a disproportionate amount of work, lose out on promotion
opportunities and suffer from burnout. We spoke to a cross-section of
Mumbai’s office-goers and figured the following five situations where
the difference between being nice and 'too nice' is slight yet
significant. Which category do you most closely align with?
Situation No. 1
Being nice
Offering
to stay late to help a colleague finish a project before he leaves on
vacation. As a result, you build goodwill and increase the likelihood
your co-worker lends you a hand when needed. Hopefully!
Being extra nice
Offering
to stay late very regularly because you have a hard time telling
colleagues that your plate is full. As a result, you are unable to
achieve a healthy work/life balance and begin to burn out.
Situation No. 2
Being nice
Receiving
shabash greetings from a satisfied client on a task well done and
forwarding the message to those who worked on the project with you to
let them know that everyone's effort was appreciated. As a result, the
entire team gets a morale boost.
Being extra nice
Receiving
kudos from a satisfied client on a job well done and giving all the
credit to those on your team because you don't want to seem
self-serving. As a result, your accomplishments go unnoticed and
higher-ups do not realise the true value you bring to the firm.
Situation No. 3
Being nice
Reviewing
a new colleague's work and discussing the areas you would modify,
explaining your reasoning behind each change. As a result, the new
employee is able to produce better results next time.
Being extra nice
Reviewing
a new colleague's work and making any necessary changes yourself to
avoid potentially hurting his/her feelings. As a result, you take on
more work, and the new employee is likely to turn in an assignment of
similar quality the next time.
Situation No. 4
Being nice
Proposing
a new idea during a meeting and acknowledging the input you received
from another staff member. As a result, your immediate boss realises
your contribution to company strategy and ability to collaborate with
others on business solutions.
Being extra nice
Not
opening your mouth during a meeting when someone else takes credit for
your idea because you'd rather not make waves. As a result, your
co-worker is rewarded for some khoon-pasina you have spent.
Situation No. 5
Being nice
After
discovering a colleague gave you poor direction on a project, you take
him aside to discuss strategies for avoiding similar confusion in the
future. As a result, major mistakes can be averted in the future and
other projects can be completed with more efficiency.
Being extra nice
After
discovering a colleague gave you poor direction on a project, you say
nothing to avoid making him feel bad and focus on how you can get
better information on your own next time. As a result, you and your
co-worker do not operate as a team, threatening the success of future
'joint venture' efforts.
Do nice employees finish last? Well,
that's for you to decide, but gullible, hardworking employees surely
finish last. Going out of your way to be helpful can only enhance your
career prospects; but don't take the concept to the extreme. Nice does
not mean letting people walk all over you. You need to be assertive and
willing to stand up for yourself if you want to finish first.
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