Nice is a word that has a wide variety of meanings. It can mean amiable and pleasant, or it can be used to describe something that is pleasing to the eye. It can also be used to refer to someone who is refined in their manners and language or to someone who has fastidious tastes. It can even be used to describe a person who is a little coy or shy.

People who are nice usually want to please others, and they often try to avoid upsetting anyone. While this is a positive characteristic, there are times when being nice can become toxic. This is particularly true when it comes to workplace behavior.

One way that being nice can be toxic is when it stops you from expressing your own opinions and preferences. This can be dangerous for your career and personal life, as it may prevent you from being able to achieve your goals or to develop the relationships that you need to succeed.

Another way that being nice can be toxic is when you show excessive deference to the chain of command. This is often seen in fear-based organizations where people are afraid to ruffle feathers or risk losing their jobs if they disagree with senior management. Being nice in this way can lead to you being taken advantage of because you are not speaking up for your own interests.

A good person, on the other hand, is not afraid to speak up for their own interests. They are willing to challenge the status quo and stand up for what they believe in. This can be very frustrating for people who are trying to be nice because it means that they have to go against the grain at times.

Good people are also kind to themselves. They know that they deserve to be treated well, and they don’t compromise their values in order to fit in with other people. If they need to say no to someone, they do so in a respectful and firm way.

Being nice does not have to be a slippery slope. It is possible to be both kind and assertive, and it is important that you find a balance in your life that allows you to express your own opinions and be true to yourself. It is also important to set clear expectations at work and in your personal life so that you can hold people accountable for their actions. Be sure to communicate clearly about what is expected of people and make it clear that you expect intellectual honesty, candid feedback, and tough questions. This will help to cut through the fog of toxic niceness.