Are you one that always wants to be ‘liked’ at work?  Nice guys really do finish last.  University of Sheffield’s researcher Dr. Nikos Bozionelos (England) has researched personality and career success and found that workers who were the most agreeable, conscientious and sensitive to the needs of others were less likely to be promoted.

Those that are self-sacrificing and compromising to make others happy, are not only receiving the low-profile tasks no one else wants, that make you less effective at your job, but they are allowing their pay checks to suffers.

Here are a few things you gain when you let go of being liked in the workplace:

  • Saying “no” stops being a problem. It’s a lot easier to say what you think when you aren’t worried about pleasing people. Steve Jobs believed avoiding direct communication to save someone’s feelings was actually selfish.
  • You build confidence. Placing your focus on results shows others that you stand for certain opinions and values. It can also give you and your co-workers more confidence in the decisions you make because you’re surer of yourself.
  • You’re more focused. Trying to please everyone can distract you from what matters. Your work can ultimately suffer because of an unrealistic need to be liked. Ultimately, focusing on your goals is better for business.
  • When you need to say no, it won’t bother you. You empower yourself to express what you think without worry. It’s a lot easier to say “no,” “not now,” or “how about this idea instead” if you’re not hung up on whether or not you’ll please someone with what you think. More importantly, you won’t fall victim to doing something or agreeing to something just to keep everyone happy.

Eliza Azarm

Eliza Azarm
Administrative Assistant III
emazarm@pvamu.edu
(936) 261-5114