The Price of Nice: Why Comfort Keeps Us Stuck and 4 Actions for Real Change

Summary

Many of us follow the quote: “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” But that advice isn’t always helpful.

In the workplace, people often choose niceness over honesty in order to avoid hurt feelings or conflict. The truth is, there are hidden costs of "niceness" that allow inequities to endure, projects to fail, and organizations to stagnate. Growth comes from courageous conversations and genuine, authentic action.

The Price of Nice introduces an innovative, proven four-step framework that shows listeners how to spot problem areas that are often masked by artificial niceness; facilitate difficult conversations and navigate conflict; empower genuine action and cease endless discussions; and build accountability systems for sustainable progress.

This guide helps team members and leaders break through superficial politeness to address real workplace problems, create solutions, and ultimately build a healthy environment for everyone to do their best work.