The Nice Blog

Sat, November 06, 2010 - 10:05:16

Mommy Bloggers Harness the Power of NICE 2.0

#bekind.

It’s the little hashtag that took Twitter by storm this week—and proved in no uncertain terms that NICE works, even online.
Started by the Candace Derickx (or as we more frequently call her, “@seemommyjuggle”) of the popular blog, The Yummy Mummy Club, the #bekind hashtag was the first step of Derickx and the rest of the blog team’s effort to spread a wave of kindness across the Web. And in the wake of numerous heartbreaking stories of internet bullying, we couldn’t think of a better time for such an initiative to start.

As you can imagine, when we caught wind of this burgeoning Twitter meme, we couldn’t have been more thrilled. All week long, we watched as others shared their thoughts about kindness, participated in group activities like the “1:00 Compliment Challenge,” and shared our own stories about the unparalleled power of NICE. And on Tuesday, it even became a trending topic!

Posted by Linda and Robin
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Fri, November 05, 2010 - 3:57:08

Is Civility Dead?

If your morning ritual is anything like our respective routines, it probably starts with a BIG cup of coffee (the one-and-only time we aren’t SMALL-thinkers) and a few casual glances at your favorite morning show. But, this week, despite the early hour, the Today Show ran a series of segments that had us riveted. Each day, they tackled a different aspect of daily life asking: “Is civility dead?”

Well, folks, we’re happy to tell you that despite what some of the experts on TODAY told Matt Lauer and company, civility is alive and well. In fact, we didn’t have to look any further than our agency’s office to find it in action. And it’s a principle our company was built upon—one that helped us grow from a tiny start-up to a billion-dollar agency in less than a decade.

Posted by Linda and Robin
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Sun, October 31, 2010 - 3:05:48

This Halloween, Do Something NICE

To most people, Halloween means dressing up, handing out goodies to trick-or-treaters, and eating a few more “fun-size” chocolates than you’d like to admit. But, for others, Halloween also means playing pranks on unsuspecting neighbors—a pastime you wouldn’t normally associate with NICE. That was, of course, until we came across a new phenomenon known as “Positive Pranking,” kicked off by author and blogger Amy Krouse Rosenthal.

The premise of “Positive Pranking,” as she named it, is to replace the mean-spirited actions normally associated with pranks (egging, toilet papering, and door ditching, to name a few), and to let pranksters get a rush from doing something NICE anonymously. For example, instead of door ditching by ringing the doorbell and running, a positive spin on the prank would be to ring the doorbell, leave a little gift with a friendly note attached, and run. In this instance, everyone benefits: the prankster gets a little jolt of adrenaline and the “pranked” person gets an emotional boost from a random act of kindness.

Posted by Linda and Robin
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Sat, October 30, 2010 - 8:57:51

Why NICE 2.0 Matters Now More Than Ever

Just this past spring, the Web was abuzz with stories of a new site in development called Unvarnished, a so-called “Yelp for LinkedIn” where viewers could anonymously post reviews of anyone, any time. Back then, it got us thinking about the importance of managing your online profile and using NICE to spread positive seeds across cyberspace. Well, now that the site has gone live, what we’ve dubbed NICE 2.0, is more important than ever and although the name of the site has changed, the rules for being “virtually” nice remain the same.

Now called Honestly.com, the site has been hailed by some as the next step in the evolution of social media, while critics have claimed it’s an invitation for trouble. But, no matter what your opinion may be, there’s one fool-proof defense against receiving a nasty personal review… and it all starts with updating your NICE skills.

Posted by Linda and Robin
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Sun, October 24, 2010 - 10:02:12

I’m Sorry: The Two Toughest Words You’ll Ever Say?

In 1970’s classic, Love Story, Ryan O’Neil famously says, “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” But, as nearly anyone can tell you, a statement like that really only works in the movies. Still, a recent study at the University of Waterloo found that while people find it easy to apologize to strangers, saying “sorry” to a loved one is much more difficult. And that’s not such a good thing, because, as we write in our book, THE POWER OF NICE, the simple act of apologizing is one of the most powerful gestures you can make, in your professional and personal life.

As Wall Street Journal columnist Sue Shellenbarger writes, “Apologies can be complicated. They’re not always forthcoming, or even sincere. Making matters worse, there’s a gender “apology gap”: Men and women have different approaches and different expectations when it comes to acts of contrition.”

Whether you’re a man or a woman, however, one thing remains certain: a good apology can work wonders to mend fences and help you maintain solid relationships. So, regardless of your personal style, here are a few important tips you should keep in mind when apologizing. (Overlook them and you just might be sorry.)

Posted by Linda and Robin
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