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The Power of Nice: How to Conquer the Business World With Kindness By Linda Kaplan ThalerRobin Koval ( Broadway Books )
Release Date: 2006-09-19
Average Customer Rating:
List Price: $17.95
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Product Description
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.
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.
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 When You Help People, They Help You ( shel6246 )
One of the key principles of my award-winning book "Principled Profit: Marketing that Puts People First" is the idea that successful businesses actively cultivate positive relationships with all stakeholders (employees, customers, vendors, community residents, etc.).
The Power of Nice focuses just on that aspect, and shows how the authors have used this principle to grow their business--often beating out other firms for substantial contracts just because of that attitude.
Sometimes, it's a simple matter of passing out flowers or chocolates, even when you don't feel like being nice. The authors recommend, for instance, "If you're burning with envy over someone else's promotion, send her flowers. If your sister just purchases a palatial country home, make her dinner at your apartment. Why? You ask. When you start acting from a place of abundance, you'll start to feel that sense of abundance. Once you start to experience that richness, you won't worry so much about what the Joneses have."
The book looks at victories through being nice ranging from employee issues--the authors cite Daniel Goleman's research that happy employees add directly to the bottom line--to marketing (including the story of how they were hired to create the famous Aflak duck) and even to elections, citing a race where the positive candidate won in spite of a fiercely negative campaign against her (or perhaps because of it, as this month's elections can provide several similar examples).
To end, one more quote from the book:
"We frequently neglect the surest and quickest route to self-respect--behaving in a way that makes you respect yourself. If you act with integrity, compassion, and class, you might not need to spend hours on a therapist's couch...you will know, in your core, that you are a valuable and worthwhile person who can change the world, one nice action at a time."
Shel Horowitz's award-winning sixth book, Principled Profit: Marketing That Puts People First, demonstrates how to build a business around ethics, environmental sustainability, and cooperative practices--and how to develop marketing that highlights those advantages.
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 Sorry, not a worthy business suggestion book ( raspell )
NOTE: REVIEW IS SUPPOSED TO BE 1 STAR
This book was given to me by one of my salesmen trainees as I am known to make the statement, "until I knock the nice out of you, you will not make it in this business." The first chapter scores some points about being nice to people that may in the future be in a position to help so you should always be nice to everyone. I wholeheartedly agree. But then this book continues to repeat the mantra for the next 119 pages with nothing else to add but some anecdotal story. I quickly was turned off by this weak, poor premise that was not enough info to turn in to a book.
And now I must challenge the authors and their premise to be nice to everyone as you never know who can help. On Page 27 they close each chapter with what they call "Nice Cubes". Page 27 they recommend taking someone to a networking get together to learn from each other. But I quote, "Select people who you believe would enjoy one another's company (i.e., not the passive-aggressive nerd from Accounts Receivable). NOW I ASK YOU, DOES THAT SOUND LIKE A NICE STATEMENT? And doesn't it just contradict their whole principal.
The braggadocio about all the accounts they win from being nice wears thin. And let me let you in on a secret. Once your pitching the business in competition, the hard part is done. IT'S GETTING SELECTED TO" MAKE THE PITCH THAT IS THE SELLING. After that you are presenting. Getting in to the pitch when people don't want to be on the phone with you, when you have to quickly demonstrate that you add value, that's the important point. And I've seen salesman after salesman think they did a great job because someone talked nice to them. Being nice is NOT the quality I want in a salesman. Being nice is a given. Now, can you demonstrate value to perspective customers? Can you take rejection? Can you debate your points when a customer throws up distractions on why not to change strategies? That comes from knowledge, persistence and the talent to demonstrate you add value.
I'm sure people will say this is a great book. But as a sales tool, it is nowhere near of value and should be skipped like the plague. I have no problems with being nice. But convincing yourself that nice solves all problems is extremely nieve. Next time at least have a premise that is a full book instead of a newspaper article masquerading as a book.
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The Power of Nice
I first purchased this book about 18 months ago. It contains so many real-life stories of positive results from developing the ordinary capacity of being nice to everyone you meet each day. I've probably given over 40 copies of this to business and personal friends who have, in turn, passed copies along. A terrific read for anyone.
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LOVED this book ( mizlorinj )
It's a quick read and full of great reminders that can be used in business or everyday life. I think it would be great mandatory reading for everyone! The world would be a better place if everyone practiced the principles outlined in this book.
One message is: you get back what you give out. I do believe that's true!
Highly recommended. Enjoy.
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Karma ( andrewandroid )
You may not be familiar with the authors' names, but you are probably familiar with their work. They are the founding partners of the advertising agency responsible for the Aflac duck campaign. One of them wrote the "I want to be a Toys R Us Kid" jingle earlier in her career.
Their message is that being nice (but not phony) in personal and professional encounters builds goodwill, which can lead to big and small rewards. Many examples are included in the book.
One memorable story is a reprimand delivered in a motivating tone. Two employees had missed several meetings with a client, who became upset. "I began the meeting by telling them some positive truths first. I told them that they needed to understand that they were very important to the client. He looked forward to their meetings, so when they canceled on him it was a very big deal. They responded with surprise - they never realized how much they mattered to the client... By the end of our conversation, they actually felt empowered. And they haven't missed a meeting since."
Some notable benefits of a "nice" work environment:
- people who are in a good mood are more likely to help others
- positive feelings make employees behave more ethically
- workplace jokes and humor stimulate creativity
- cheerful employees are more productive and make customers happy.
The authors cite various researchers throughout the book. They seem to be especially impressed with Prof. Daniel Goleman, author of the books Primal Leadership and Emotional Intelligence, as they have quoted him seven times.
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Addiction
