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 I
recently read Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval’s book, The
Power of Nice: How to
Conquer the Business World with Kindness, and I was impressed.
I do not usually come across great books about kindness written
by people who are actually in
the business world (Both Kaplan Thaler and Koval are executives in a
well-known,
New York
advertising firm). This
little book, containing a great introduction by Jay Leno, is well worth
picking up. The book offers
readers small but important suggestions to transform the business world
(and everyday life) into the positive, worthwhile connections that many
people want but cannot figure out how to create.
Linda was kind enough
to share her thoughts with me regarding the book and her perspective on
kindness in the business world. This
is a book of hope for anyone looking to transform the business world.
Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval remind us why being nice in
the world makes good sense and good business.
Daniel: What
makes kindness such a necessary part of today’s business world?
Linda: In
today’s world, there are very few occupations that don’t require
teamwork and collaboration. Being able to work well in these types of
environments is critical and we believe the most useful tool for success
is being nice. Conducting business with nice behaviors will reap
benefits covering everything from office morale and lower turnover to
the all-important bottom line. When you take a closer look at successful
companies today, more and more are realizing that it’s crucial for
them to adopt these kinds of policies in order to stay competitive in
the marketplace. Especially when you accept the fact that we all live in
a fishbowl – there is just too much emphasis put on accountability and
transparency when one wrong move can be broadcast by broadband in a
nanosecond.
Daniel: Do
you believe that kindness is something to practice or that it is a skill
that people already possess?
Linda: We
always say, nice is like a muscle – the more you practice it, the
stronger it gets! So even if you think you might not be the nicest
person in the world, don’t fret. With just a few simple actions, you
will begin to strengthen those muscles and before you know it, nice will
become second nature. In the book, we outline some easy-to-use tips that
you can use to build upon your nice repertoire - simple actions such as
smiling more, trying to gossip less and spending an entire day where you
only tell the truth. In the end, we are all apes and we mimic each other
just as animals do. So if you start being nice, chances are, people are
going to be nice right back and then the cycle continues.
Daniel:
Should kindness be part of a company’s bottom line or should kindness
exist in business because it is the right thing to do?
Linda: The
good news is these two benefits of nice are not mutually exclusive.
There is no question that acting with respect and kindness towards
others is the right thing to do. We all learned that from our
grandmothers growing up. But when you take the hard facts to the table,
the added benefits of this type of behavior make smart business sense.
The statistics show nicer companies have lower turnover, they have
employees who are healthier and take less sick days, and they have more
productive employees which can only mean one thing – a fatter bottom
line. It’s a win-win situation!
Daniel: What
do you say to people who believe that kindness has no place in today’s
business world?
I am referring to those who think that kindness in business is
unrealistic.
Linda: Reality
television might teach viewers that they have to eat their young to
succeed. But reality TV isn’t the reality of the boardroom and in
today’s world, we believe it is time for nice to get a makeover.
Let’s face it, nice has an image problem. But we must be clear here.
“Nice” doesn’t mean being a pushover or getting walked all over.
When we talk about the power of nice, we are speaking about a clear-eyed
confidence that let’s you get what you want, but in a way that puts
positive impressions into motion. Positive impressions are like seeds
and once they are planted, they will grow exponentially over time and
you will reap results beyond your wildest imagination. It’s time for
the tide to change. Examples of corrupt CEOs and fallen idols all over
the front page of the newspaper are enough to kick this cultural shift
into high gear.
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