Self-Respect in Business: The Fine Line Between Nice and Too Nice and How to Ask for What You’re Worth

“Being too nice literally increases your chances of being hurt, used and or taken for granted.”

Nice people are reputed to finish last. In business, being nice can increase the chances of success, but being too nice can cause a business to fail when your service and skills are undervalued and profits are not achieved. We don’t want to burn bridges, but we need to stand our ground. Studies show that self-respect encourages respect from others. In this talk, we will review ideas and practices I’ve seen work in developing and conveying self-respect. When we don’t value ourselves and our work, we tend to charge too little for the work we do, and struggle with asking for what we are worth. Self respect includes establishing boundaries to manage client expectations. We will look at tools that help manage client expectations by improving communication, organizing workflows and detailing contracts. To that end, you’ll learn how to apply these tools to business practices—allowing you to be nice, but not too nice.

Presentation Slides »