The 5 powerful ways to avoid being a nice guy in the workspace
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| Avoid being a nice guy |
The 5 powerful ways we can avoid being the nice guy in the workspace.
What is a nice guy in a workspace?
In layman's terms, a nice guy is a guy who behaves well to sound appeasing to others; in the social scenario, he is a novice with a dishonest persona, but in a workspace, he is a skilled employee who lacks an understanding of healthy boundaries in a workspace.
In the workspace, these are the sole contributing employees or the father-style team leader who compensates for an inactive contribution of team members. They are naïve taking people's word at face value, consequently, constantly finding themselves underpaid for their efforts.
The problem is being a nice guy in the office
Workspace is cruel; the nice guys in a workspace constantly loop through the self-deprecating cycle. The vicious circle of self-deprecating self-worth transits itself into accepting their underpaid wages, consequently undervaluing their efforts and talent.
The cycle starts with pleasing people and ends with depreciating self-worth, enhancing the depreciation rate as time goes through this cycle.
Workspace is a brutal space:
When people enter a workspace, they expect to bond with people, contrary to the people's beliefs. Entering up as a nice guy to impress ten other people around
It will only end you in a scenario where people will not be friends but use you like a work dump.
Unpaid labor:
Continuing with the working dump, you take a larger workload for your same fixed wage, and again, with people-pleasing behavior, you fail to command a larger salary.
Reduced self-worth:
When you keep working for people for a low salary, you have reduced self-worth, which people see through, but you fail to see through.
You convince yourself that you worth you deserve less, and again, you go on with the same.
5 powerful Ways to Avoid Being a Nice Guy in the Workspace
In a workspace, nice guys often struggle a lot. They receive comparatively lower wages for their contribution. It reduces their self-worth and paints a bad self-image. The usual burnout takes the life out of them. We have listed 5 powerful ways to avoid being a nice guy in the workspace to help you escape the vicious cycle of self-deprecating behavior in the workspace.
Learn to say no politely.
Workspace is not for friendly people, but you must speak nicely to people. Even the rudest words must be spoken courteously. It is hard to pick subtle mannerisms initially, but people gradually understand them. For the time being, I can drop here an example.
Person A meets B, A colleague asks to favor executing a pending task nearing a deadline; B denies it by saying, I am afraid, but I had called it a day. My hours are over, and my family requires my presence. You can ask the team leader to extend the deadline. Take care, see you tomorrow.
Learn to Set Boundaries and Enforce Them
Establishing clear boundaries is essential in not becoming the 'nice guy' who gets overwhelmed with tasks and responsibilities that are not theirs. This means being assertive about your capabilities and time.
When someone requests something beyond your capacity, you can respond, "I understand the urgency/importance of this, but my current workload doesn't allow me to take on additional tasks. Let's find someone with the bandwidth or discuss reprioritizing my tasks."
Prioritize Your Tasks and Communicate Them
Being perceived as a 'nice guy' often comes from a willingness to drop everything to help others, which can lead to your work suffering. Instead, prioritize your tasks based on their importance and deadlines.
When approached with a new request, you can say, "I'm currently focused on completing [task], which is due [deadline]. I can look at this once that's done, or if this is more urgent, let's discuss how we can adjust the priorities."
Ask for What You Deserve
Nice guys often hesitate to ask for fair compensation or recognition for their work, fearing it may come off as pushy or greedy. It's crucial to advocate for yourself. Prepare data showing your contributions and their impact, and request a meeting with your manager to discuss your compensation or career advancement.
Phrase it: "I'd like to discuss my contributions to the team and explore the possibility of a review of my compensation/career progression."
Provide Constructive Feedback
Being nice doesn't mean avoiding giving feedback. The key is to provide constructive feedback that helps others grow without feeling attacked. When addressing an issue, focus on the behavior and its impact rather than the person.
For example, "I noticed that the report was submitted past the deadline, which has impacted the project timeline. Let's discuss how we can ensure this doesn't happen again."
FAQ
1. What does being a 'nice guy' mean in the workspace?
Being a 'nice guy' in the workspace often means you're overly accommodating, taking on more work than you can handle, and not advocating for your needs.
2. How can I say 'no' to colleagues without seeming rude?
You can say 'no' politely by explaining your current workload and suggesting alternatives. For example, "I'm focused on a pressing deadline right now, so I can't take on any more tasks. Perhaps [another colleague's name] might have some capacity?"
3. Why is it important to ask for what I deserve in the workplace?
Asking for what you deserve, such as fair compensation or opportunities for advancement, is crucial for your career growth and self-esteem. It shows that you value your contributions and are serious about your professional development.
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