You should definitely be kind and helpful to your coworkers. You should be compassionate when your coworkers are having a hard time or need your assistance. It’s the right thing to do. And you’ll also be helping to make to make your office a more productive, supportive place.

But it’s also possible to be too nice. If you never stand up for yourself, even when you’re being taken advantage of, this will result in negative consequences. You’ll feel resentful. People will think that they can continue to take advantage of you. And eventually, you may end up feeling overworked, stressed out, and exhausted.

It’s important to stand up for yourself when you need to. Here’s how to do it:

  • Be honest and direct – Even though it’s sometimes hard to speak up for yourself, it’s important to be straightforward about what you need in order to get your work done.
  • Be calm – If something upsetting has happened to you at work, and you’re feeling emotional, don’t say anything until you’ve calmed down and given yourself a little time to think about it. Before you have a challenging conversation, it’s important to be reasonable and professional.
  • Get your facts straight – Before having a challenging conversation, it’s also important to be prepared. Make sure you have all of the necessary facts and figures at your fingertips.
  • Try to see things from the other person’s perspective – When someone upsets you, it’s hard to see things from his or her point of view. But still, you should make an effort to understand where the other person is coming from. This will make it easier for you to work together and resolve the problem.
  • Try to compromise – When someone treats you badly at work, you shouldn’t just accept it and say nothing. But it’s also wise to avoid an angry confrontation. Try to find some common ground with the person and work out a compromise that you can both live with.
  • Believe in yourself – You’re worthy of respect. Never forget that.

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Komar, M. (2016, August 29). 11 ways to stop being too nice at work & start being assertive. Bustle. Retrieved from: https://www.bustle.com/articles/180817-11-ways-to-stop-being-too-nice-at-work-start-being-assertive