Book Review - The Power Of Nice by Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval
Category Book Review
This is a dramatic counterpoint to a book I just recently read on leadership "skills", but it's far more accurate and useful... The Power of Nice: How to Conquer the Business World With Kindness by Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval. When I read this book and compared it to my own 30 years of experience in the business world, I would have to say they have the formula down pat.
Contents: The Power of Nice, The Six Power of Nice Principles; Bake a Bigger Pie; Sweeten the Deal; Help Your Enemies; Tell the Truth; "Yes" Your Way to the Top; Shut Up and Listen; Put Your Head on Their Shoulders; Create a Nicer Universe; Notes; Index
Thaler and Koval run an ad agency, not an industry that you normally associate with "nice"... "Cut-throat" perhaps, but not nice. But they've decided to do things their own way, and that involves using the power of Nice as a guiding principle. Rather than rant, rave, and undercut others, they choose to be pleasant and work towards situations where everyone gains in the end. This philosophy has earned them the respect and business of many high-end Fortune 500 firms that decided they didn't want to play the typical political games often associated with advertising. In The Power of Nice, they distill their philosophy and operating principles down to a short (127 pages), entertaining, easy to read format which, if practiced by the reader, will definitely change the way you do business.
It's been my experience that being "nice" is a far greater power in the workplace over the long run than the typical "business is war" mentality. Many of their illustrations and stories parallel experiences that I've observed or been part of. The one chapter that really resonated with me was the "Shut Up and Listen" section. Letting the other guy be smarter, asking questions instead of making statements, and not arguing cause you to stand out from the typical coworker or leader in today's environment. And when you realize that everyone is "starring in their own movie, not yours", you begin to realize that it's not all about you, and you can get much further by helping others shine rather than trying to outshine everyone else.
This is one of those quick reads that you really don't have an excuse not to peruse. It won't take more than an hour or two, and the difference in your working life will start to show up immediately.
This is a dramatic counterpoint to a book I just recently read on leadership "skills", but it's far more accurate and useful... The Power of Nice: How to Conquer the Business World With Kindness by Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval. When I read this book and compared it to my own 30 years of experience in the business world, I would have to say they have the formula down pat.
Contents: The Power of Nice, The Six Power of Nice Principles; Bake a Bigger Pie; Sweeten the Deal; Help Your Enemies; Tell the Truth; "Yes" Your Way to the Top; Shut Up and Listen; Put Your Head on Their Shoulders; Create a Nicer Universe; Notes; Index
Thaler and Koval run an ad agency, not an industry that you normally associate with "nice"... "Cut-throat" perhaps, but not nice. But they've decided to do things their own way, and that involves using the power of Nice as a guiding principle. Rather than rant, rave, and undercut others, they choose to be pleasant and work towards situations where everyone gains in the end. This philosophy has earned them the respect and business of many high-end Fortune 500 firms that decided they didn't want to play the typical political games often associated with advertising. In The Power of Nice, they distill their philosophy and operating principles down to a short (127 pages), entertaining, easy to read format which, if practiced by the reader, will definitely change the way you do business.
It's been my experience that being "nice" is a far greater power in the workplace over the long run than the typical "business is war" mentality. Many of their illustrations and stories parallel experiences that I've observed or been part of. The one chapter that really resonated with me was the "Shut Up and Listen" section. Letting the other guy be smarter, asking questions instead of making statements, and not arguing cause you to stand out from the typical coworker or leader in today's environment. And when you realize that everyone is "starring in their own movie, not yours", you begin to realize that it's not all about you, and you can get much further by helping others shine rather than trying to outshine everyone else.
This is one of those quick reads that you really don't have an excuse not to peruse. It won't take more than an hour or two, and the difference in your working life will start to show up immediately.
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