When being “nice” is not being kind: The negative aspects of a “niceness culture” at work.
We are raised to know to be nice to others and treat people as we want to be treated. This mentality, however, manifests itself in how we perform at work as we become older. Is it possible, though, to be too nice at work? Nobody wants to create enemies in their workplace. If you find yourself working in a group, you want to feel comfortable with everyone and get things going quickly. You may, however, misread your desire for solid relationships as a need to agree on everything. You’ll ultimately discover that you’re going out of your way to being everyone’s favorite.
It’s common for people in the workforce to want to help as much as possible. They’re willing to go the extra mile to help their businesses. However, there is a grey line between being nice and helpful and being too kind. This means never saying no to your boss or coworkers and always saying yes to them.
People who are too polite at work may not be able to do their jobs well if they don’t set clear boundaries. This can even hurt their professional lives. There might be some unpleasant effects if you don’t get compensated for your efforts, are taken advantage of, or have extra duties added to your to-do list without your knowledge.
Being too nice at the workplace
The benefits of being nice to people at work might outweigh the negative aspects of doing so. Even if it is not immediately evident, an office or a business setting often exudes an aura of fierce rivalry and competitiveness. Climbing the corporate ladder to get an advantage over friends and coworkers may motivate some people. Because of this desire to “get the upper hand” at work, individuals who attempt to be kind may find themselves disadvantaged. Here are some everyday workplace situations that you may confront if you go above and above to be too nice to all of your employees.
You’re thought to be a fake.
Nobody wants to be labeled as a fake. Perhaps your main goal is to get along with everyone to ensure a good workflow. This implies that you will avoid upsetting others by providing them your honest criticism regarding work-related concerns.
The more you do it, the more people will question what you say. They’ll be suspicious of your intentions if, for example, you praise someone’s work in front of them to encourage another person to do the same thing. As a business person, you could try being direct but not rude to keep things pleasant. Consider being more specific in your compliments and talking about things that people could do to improve.
You’ve never made a constructive criticism contribution before.
Being too nice at work can also hurt your coworker when you tell him his project work is excellent when it isn’t. You indeed want to keep your friendships strong, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t disagree with each other from time to time.
It can be scary when you give constructive criticism, especially to your peers. If you don’t give them any recommendations, other people might think that you don’t want to help them. Praise your coworkers all the time without pointing out their flaws could get you in trouble and cost you your job, so don’t do that. You may be partially to blame for not being entirely honest with their performance. Remember that open and honest communication benefits both the colleague and the organization.
You never claim credit for your efforts.
Being “too nice” implies you give credit where it is due and don’t retain it for yourself. You are willing to congratulate your colleagues when they assist you in doing well, but you can also speak about your accomplishments and request the attention you deserve.
As a consequence of being “too polite,” you give everyone else all of the credit or let them take it while downplaying your labor. Being modest may seem reasonable at first, but you’re diminishing your worth and allowing others to gain from what you’ve worked hard for.
It’s as though you’ve been taken for granted.
When you’re “too kind,” it implies you not only assist your colleagues when they need it but also know what matters to you. When the occasion calls for it, you politely and assertively say “no” when the time is appropriate.
It entails saying “yes” to things that aren’t in your best interests and failing to create realistic boundaries for yourself. Your employees are becoming better at running over you, even if you believe you’re being helpful.
Your job is to be everyone’s doormat.
People will begin to forget your limitations without realizing them as time passes! A colleague wants to depart early, but you need to complete a task. Asked if you could stay late and finish everything, you say, “Absolutely.” This is how it works: That’s good! People won’t feel bad about stepping on you if you do it a lot, and your coworkers won’t. If you can’t meet their needs, you must tell your coworker so. Refusing these requests will help you build your good name.
You should not feel a bit sorry about being nice. However, being too nice doesn’t mean you’re a terrible person. In-person or by email, you can be genuine to each other.
Being “nice” lets your colleagues have a terrible day without intervening. Sometimes you have to let things go. Being “too polite” entails avoiding significant conflicts, miscommunications, and other issues. You either retreat and hope for the best or hide your sentiments to maintain the peace.
It starts with realizing that you don’t always have to please everyone around you. Work with ease, but don’t be a punching bag. People will respect and maybe admire you more if you exhibit some bravery. It’s also possible to seem “too much nice.” Nobody thinks you secretly have homicidal thoughts towards them! And if you leave it in for too long, you may collapse.
It’s also about creating limits and speaking out even when others don’t want to hear it. It requires a shift of perspective to recognize that you can still be polite in a quarrel. You may disagree without being rude. You may be forceful without being disrespectful. Cultivating these traits takes time. It will improve your work interactions and relationships. Plus, you’ll be happier, more in control of your career, and it will thrive!
Leave a Reply