The Nice Blog

Fri, July 09, 2010 - 3:04:07

Michael Scott Can’t Teach You Much About Management, but Steve Carell Can.

Last week, The Office star Steve Carell announced he would leave his role as Scranton branch manager Michael Scott at the end of next season. Although his character’s management style can teach the rest of us little about the keys to success in the business world, it turns out the actor actually can. In a recent New Yorker interview, Tad Friend explains that many of Carell’s professional achievements are due to the actor’s immense talent, but his career success can also be attributed to his reputation as one of the industry’s nicest guys.

Friend writes, “Off-camera, Carell holds doors, waits in line, always has a friendly word, and never calls attention to himself.” As an actor who has made a name in Hollywood by becoming an indispensible member of ensemble casts performing largely improvisational comedies, Carell has used NICE to build relationships on and off stage.

Posted by Linda and Robin
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Sat, July 03, 2010 - 9:35:07

Nice Bike

Every so often, we come across a book that echoes our NICE philosophy and touches our hearts. A few days ago, that’s just what happened when we received a copy of Nice Bike: Making Meaningful Connections on the Road of Life from the author, Emmy Award-winning keynote speaker and humorist, Mark Scharenbroich.

Written in a light-hearted, story-driven style, Scharenbroich’s book was inspired by—of all things—a Harley Davidson motorcycle convention he happened upon while travelling through the town of Neenah, Wisconsin.  Although surrounded by a diverse assortment of motorcycle enthusiasts—everyone from tough-looking, leather-clad bikers, to preppy professionals—he saw the amazing power two little words had to connect people from all walks of life: “Nice bike.”

Somehow, those words resonated with Scharenbroich and it became his motto. “Nice Bike.” Two little words driven by three positive actions: acknowledge, honor, and connect.
As Scharenbroich poignantly writes, Nice Bike is “not a technique; it’s a genuine interest in others and the willingness to acknowledge the talents and accomplishments of everyone.”

What better way to live your life? When you “Nice Bike” someone, everyone benefits. Not only do you make another person’s day, you make your own, too. It can come through even the smallest of actions. While you might not suspect it, one little interaction can have a powerful multiplier effect that can spread from person to person and plant positive seeds all around you—and that doesn’t just mean a better day. It means a better life.

To learn more about Mark’s new book, which includes a foreword by Mark Sanborn, please visit his website at www.NiceBike.com.

Posted by Linda and Robin
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Sat, July 03, 2010 - 9:31:33

It’s Not Personal; It’s Business. Or is it?

Today on the Harvard Business Review’s blog, Peter Bregman discusses the importance of friendships in your career development and he shared a humorous, yet powerful video which illustrates one of the most common misconceptions when it comes to competition: “I’m not here to make friends. I’m here to win.”

Posted by Linda and Robin
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Sat, June 26, 2010 - 9:29:44

Are You a Workplace “Vuvuzela?”

Up until a few weeks ago, chances are “vuvuzela” wasn’t a part of your vernacular. But, with the oddly-named plastic horn making headlines after drawing complaints from World Cup athletes—not to mention viewers worldwide—chances are you’ve quickly become familiar with it. 

There’s no denying it: unless you’re the one making all the noise, the vuvuzela has little to offer. It’s loud, it’s relentless, and it’s downright annoying. So much so, in fact, that many have called on FIFA to ban the item from games altogether. And it got us thinking about one of our favorite bits of NICE advice: “shut up and listen.” So maybe it’s time you asked yourself: “Am I a workplace vuvuzela?”

Posted by Linda and Robin
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Fri, June 25, 2010 - 9:06:35

NICE is the Best Defense against Workplace Bullies

With this week’s release of the hotly-anticipated iPhone 4G, the company behind the latest must-have gadget has been a hot topic of conversation—and not just for its popular products. As the New York Times reports, the tech-giant once regarded as an underdog is now being considered by many—including the FTC—to be a bit of a bully, due to its stringent exclusions of a number of its competitors’ technologies from its products.

All this talk of business world bullying got us thinking about a topic that’s growing increasingly relevant in the lives of many adults: workplace bullying.  Today, bullying isn’t just found on the playground; it’s a serious problem that can follow people from their elementary school days, through adolescence, and into adulthood. 

In the face of bullying it can be tempting to isolate yourself from others, but whether between companies or between individuals, there’s one surprising way to protect yourself: plant positive seeds wherever you go and nurture your network of friends.

Posted by Linda and Robin
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