Page 707 - Business Principles and Management

Case Study

DO NICE EMPLOYEES FINISH LAST?

Business is not an easy game to play. Individuals are sometimes tempted
to put their interests above those of others. Unethical individuals capital-
ize on the misfortune of fellow workers. The Harvard Business Review
found that personal feelings toward an individual are more significant in
the formation of productive work relationships than the person’s compe-
tence. The ability to connect with others is increasingly important, as the
global business environment requires individuals who can collaborate
with diverse teams of employees and outside contacts. Companies expect
staff members to work on project-based teams more frequently in the
next 10 to 15 years. Individuals who are pleasant and personable will
have the greatest success in forming productive professional partnerships.
A positive, friendly disposition can be a valuable career asset. There is
a difference between being nice and being a pushover, however. People
who try too hard to be liked may seem disingenuous or out of touch
with reality. Some professional situations simply require individuals to
take a stand, even when it would be easier to ignore the circumstances.
Being overly accommodating can result in shouldering a disproportion-
ate amount of work, losing out on promotion opportunities, and suffer-
ing from burnout. For example, offering to stay late to help a colleague
finish a project before she leaves on vacation is a gesture that may build
goodwill and increase the likelihood that the coworker will lend you a
hand when you need it. Being too nice, on the other hand, occurs when
you stay late every night because you have a hard time telling colleagues
that your plate is full. The result is burnout from not being able to bal-
ance work and leisure.
Another example of being nice is receiving kudos from a satisfied client
for a job well done and forwarding the message to those who worked on
the project with you to let them know that everyone’s effort was appreci-
ated. The entire team receives a morale boost. Receiving praise from a sat-
isfied customer and giving all the credit to everyone else on your team
because you don’t want to seem self-serving is an example of being too
nice. Your accomplishments go unnoticed and your superiors do not real-
ize the true value you bring to the firm.

THINK CRITICALLY

1. What is the fine line between being nice and too nice at work?
2. Why is it important to give colleagues the credit they deserve?
3. What is the danger faced by efficient employees who willingly take
on responsibilities and complete projects on time?
4. How would an unethical employee handle praise for a task success-
fully completed by a team?

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