Before I began working on my business full-time, and it was but a side hustle, my past positions always included client-facing duties. I’ve always been told by superiors that my diplomatic nature (which I attribute to my being a Libra) and respect for niceties (which I attribute to my Southern parents making me write thank you cards for everything) set me apart—in a good way.
But I also noticed that many of the head honchos at companies I worked for seemed to take pride in being mean—slamming the phone down on customers who called at inopportune times, writing passive-aggressive emails to the staff at 2 AM because something out of their control didn’t go their way, and bragging to their associates about how loud they yelled at a courier. Is that really what it takes to be a successful professional?, I’d wonder. Do I have to adopt a tyrant tone to get ahead?
Now that I own my own company, I know that the answer is a resounding no. In fact, I’ve been reminded time and again just how far being a little nicer can go in business—and in life. Here are three ways being nice has paid off for me (and how it can for you, too).
via The Surprising Way I Get Ahead in Business (and Life) | The Muse.