Baseball player Leo Durocher famously said “nice guys finish last.”
Do they?
There is no conclusive answer to this question but Christine Porath, in a recent article for the New York Times, argues that politeness and regard for others in the workplace pays off. She cited a study involving a biotechnology company that found workers who are seen as civil are twice as likely to be viewed as leaders.
Unfortunately, it’s not hard to find research that comes to the opposite conclusion. At least one study shows that agreeableness affects income – particularly for women. Nice gals and guys are thought to earn less than co-workers who are not nice.
I submit that Duroucher’s question misses the point.
A smart employer, mindful of the bottom line, would not knowingly promote a worker who is rude, engages in workplace bullying or fails to show respect for others.
Employers increasingly recognize that incivility or bullying in the workplace is bad for business and the bottom line. An abusive workplace exposes a company to expensive and unnecessary turnover, low morale and productivity, higher medical costs and needless risk of litigation. Moreover, research shows that workplace bullies act for their own selfish reasons, in complete disregard for the success of the employer. The success of a bully in a workplace is directly proportional to the employer’s failure to effectively manage the company’s most critical resource – its workforce.
There is no room for rudeness in the workplace, and definitely no room for a bully. Thanks for sharing!