The key question is what is being nice. The answer to this question includes a few factors like respecting other's viewpoints, helping colleagues when needed and being courteous in all interactions.
There is a difference between being nice and being easily influenced. In some situations you try hard to be liked and in some other situations you have to take a stand whether you like or not. If you are excessively helpful, you may have to take on work you cannot bear and finally end up in burnout.
Following are five situations where the difference between being nice and being too nice is slight but significant. You can find out to which category you belong:
Situation No.1
Being nice:
If you stay back to help your colleague finish his project, you earn his good will. You can expect him to reciprocate when you need.
Being too nice:
Staying late every night to help your colleagues even when you are overloaded doesn't take you anywhere and you fail to keep your work-life balance.
Situation No. 2
Being nice:
Forwarding the 'well-done' note from a client to everyone who were with you on the team and appreciate their contribution. Thus the entire team gets a morale boost.
Being too nice:
Forwarding the 'well-done' note from a client and giving all the credit to your colleagues on the team to show you are not self-serving. In such a situation your achievements go unnoticed by your bosses and you will be a loser.
Situation No.3
Being nice:
Reviewing the work of a new colleague and discussing where you have made modifications and explaining to him the reasons for it. The new employee will be able to work better.
Being too nice:
While reviewing new employee's work and making changes yourself in order not to hurt her, you take on more work and the new entrant will not show any improvement.
Situation No. 4
Being nice:
While presenting a new idea, acknowledging the inputs given by your colleagues, makes your boss to recognize your skill to collaborate in evolving business solutions.
Being too nice:
Keeping quiet when someone takes credit for your work is okay. But your coworker is rewarded for your work.
Situation No. 5
Being nice:
When you are misguided by a coworker about a project, you take him aside to explain to him how to avoid such confusion. As a result mistakes can be avoided and projects can be completed efficiently.
Being too nice:
On being misguided by a colleague about a project, you do your own home work next time so that you won't hurt his feelings. As a result mistakes can be prevented but you and your colleague cannot be good team-mates and your future collaborative efforts will fail.
These five situations suggest that nice employees do not finish last. Going an extra mile to be more friendly and helpful will only boosts your career growth. But don't go to the extremes. Nice doesn't mean allowing others to take advantage of your nicety. You must be assertive to finish first.
