The Dangers of Being Nice at Work

Nice, pronounced NEESS, is the capital city of France’s Alpes-Maritimes department on the Mediterranean coast and is one of the main resort cities in the Cote d’Azur region. It’s also known as the French Riviera because of its sunny weather and beautiful beaches. Nice is famous for its cuisine, including bouillabaisse and pizzerias, and also for its art museums featuring the works of Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse and Niki de Saint Phalle.

Nice people are kind and empathic and they often have a good understanding of what other people are going through in life. This helps them to be more accepting of other people, even if they don’t agree with their values or beliefs. They also try to see the positive side of a situation rather than complaining or focusing on the negative. Nice people tend to show this by listening intently to others and not talking down to them or criticizing them.

It’s not just about listening, however. People who are nice are also willing to offer help and support to others. They might share a meal, lend a hand or give words of wisdom. This is a big part of being nice because it shows that you care about the needs of other people, not just your own. It’s a big part of the Golden Rule.

Another part of being nice is that you don’t gossip or talk about other people behind their backs. You might even say nice things about people to their face but you wouldn’t say those same things about them in private. Nice people always tell the truth and they don’t lie or cheat.

Being nice can have some downsides, especially when it comes to a workplace culture where a lot of niceness can be a cover for a toxic environment. If you’re constantly putting your needs on the back burner to please everyone else, it can take a toll on you and you may eventually burn yourself out. It’s important to be able to express yourself clearly and respectfully in the workplace, especially when it comes to giving feedback to others.

It can be difficult to break free of a culture of niceness at work because it’s so ingrained in the way we think and act. Tessa West, a psychologist at NYU and the author of the book “Nice Is a Dirty Word,” told CNBC Make It that she has seen people in high-powered jobs with great reputations for being nice who aren’t getting things done because they’re too busy trying to be friendly to their bosses. In fact, she said that many people are afraid to be honest because it might hurt the person’s feelings. However, she believes that it’s important to have honest conversations with colleagues to find ways to work together more effectively. It’s not as easy to have these conversations as it is to have frank discussions with friends, but it is possible and can have long-term benefits.