The Power of Nice: How to Conquer the Business World With Kindness | 
 enlarge | Authors: Linda Kaplan Thaler, Robin Koval
Publisher: Doubleday Business
Category: Book
List Price: $17.95
Buy Used: $2.90
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Avg. Customer Rating:  64 reviews
Sales Rank: 13617
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 144
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.6
ISBN: 0385518927
Dewey Decimal Number: 658.4092
EAN: 9780385518925
ASIN: 0385518927
Publication Date: September 19, 2006
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Condition: Used - Good Default Text
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| Editorial Reviews:
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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| Customer Reviews: Read 59 more reviews...
 Karma July 14, 2008
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.
 Nice guys finish FIRST... June 13, 2008
I was first introduced to this book by an associate who said it described me perfectly. I didn't realize what a compliment this really was until I ordered it from Amazon and read it.
If you are not a nice person, this book can really revolutionize your outlook. It lays out the case to be nice to others in a logical manner and provides a lot of thought provoking reasons to embrace this concept.
If you are already a nice person, you will get even more out of this book. Lots of great advice on sincerity and how to still get what you want out of any relationship. You simply can't go wrong.
On top of this, the book is both easy and fun to read. It's a GREAT conversation starter and wonderful source of quotes for classes and speaches.
Don't underestimate the title, being nice works May 8, 2008
The information in this book seems obvious, but I never thought that reexamining my notions of what it means to be nice would cause me to change my perspective so drastically. It is an elementary concept, and most people know a nice person when they see one, but rarely do people discuss the concept or what change of character is required to come off as a nice person to others. Intention is always in the back of people's minds, but in the heat of the moment, it becomes difficult to make the wisest or nicest decision. Its hard to weigh the benefits of preventing yourself from making a reactionary blunder. But with the help of this book, the guidelines that most of us already have some subconscious notion of are clearly laid out.
The anecdotes that this book is comprised of are thoroughly enjoyable and illustrate a great picture of how beneficial approaching everyone with kindness can be. The book also does a nice job of tempting the reader with the idea that being nice will reap personal benefits while at the same time, reinforcing the notion that being nice doesn't have to have selfish motivation. It is simply a good habit to have; it will boost your self-respect and the well-being of all.
Nice book, but... January 24, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
It's nice to be nice, and it works to be nice if you do it right. But don't try to be too nice, because it may not work. There is a good discussion about the reason in The Key To Career Success.
A must read for every woman.... January 9, 2008
Both myself and my husband read this book and have now purchased it for both our daughters to read. It is a twist on the corporate world, and it hit the nail on the head for why I always struggled with the dog eat dog mentality I encountered. It is a great read for everyone and puts a cooperative spin on working together for every age and career.
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