The Power of Nice

Time and time again, we have seen the extraordinary power of "nice" in our business dealings and in our personal lives. Think about it: Nice makes more money. According to Dr. Daniel Goleman in his bookPrimal Leadership,there is a direct correlation between employee morale and the bottom line. One study found that every 2 percent increase in the service climate that is, the general cheerfulness and helpfulness of the staff -- saw a 1 percent increase in revenue.- Nice is healthier.A University of Michigan study found that older Americans who provide support to others either through volunteer work or simply being a good friend and neighbor had a 60 percent lower rate of premature death than their unhelpful peers. Nice spends less time in court.One study found that doctors who had never been sued spoke to their patients for an average of three minutes longer than physicians who had been sued twice or more, according to Malcolm Gladwell in his book,Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking. It is often the small kindnesses the smiles, gestures, compliments, favors that make our day, and can even change our lives. Whether you are leading your own company, or running for president of the P.T.A...,the power of nice will help you to open doors, improve your relationships at work and at home, and let you sleep a whole lot better. Nice not only finishes first; those who use its nurturing power wind up happier, to boot! FromThe Power of Nice Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval have moved to the top of the advertising industry by following a simple but powerful philosophy: it pays to be nice. Where so many companies encourage a dog eat dog mentality, the Kaplan Thaler Group has succeeded through chocolate and flowers. In THE POWER OF NICE, through their own experiences and the stories of other people and businesses, they demonstrate why, contrary to conventional wisdom, nice people finish first. Turning the well-known adage of "Nice Guys Finish Last" on its ear, THE POWER OF NICE shows that "nice" companies have lower employee turnover, lower recruitment costs, and higher productivity. Nice people live longer, are healthier, and make more money. In today's interconnected world, companies and people with a reputation for cooperation and fair play forge the kind of relationships that lead to bigger and better opportunities, both in business and in life. But being nice doesn't mean acting wimpy. In fact, nice may be the toughest four-letter word you'll ever encounter. Kaplan Thaler and Koval illustrate the surprising power of nice with an array of real-life examples from the business arena as well as from their personal lives. Most important, they present a plan of action covering everything from creating a positive impression to sweetening the pot to turning enemies into allies. Filled with inspiration and suggestions on how to supercharge your career and expand your reach in the workplace, THE POWER OF NICE will transform how you live and work.