Power Of Being Nice

October 15, 2009

Interview with Linda Kaplan Thaler author of The Power of Nice: How to Conquer the Business World With Kindness

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Mike Carruthers:
If you want to get ahead, is being nice a good thing or a bad thing?

Linda Kaplan Thaler:
You know, "nice" has been getting a bad rap. "Nice" is defined by people as someone who's milquetoast - you can step all over them. The fact of the matter is, it's probably the toughest four letter word you'll ever learn.

 Linda Kaplan Thaler, co-author of the book The Power of Nice acknowledges that a lot of people believe that nice guys finish last.

That's a short term strategy. But the long term goal - which is to really become successful - you have to make sure every imprint you make on somebody is going to be a positive one. You never know, that messenger you insulted - they may one day be your client.

Every time you help someone or you're nice to them you create an ally. Linda says George Washington knew the power of "nice? "

In the Revolution when they captured British soldiers, he made sure they were treated like kings. And his soldiers thought he was crazy and he said, "No, you don't understand - these are the future citizens of the United States." And that's exactly what happened, they were treated really well and they ended up coming over to our side and staying here.

You can even be nice when people are mean to you.

You say to me, "You know what Linda, I hate that dress you're wearing." I can do two things: I can echo right back and say, "Well, your tie looks really ugly also" or maybe I respond with, "I'm glad you even notice what I'm wearing." Now that probably said it - because they were trying to be nasty, but you deflected the whole thing. This is one way to turn enemies at work into your best allies.

To hear the complete unedited interview, click here.