Nice Guys Can Get the Corner Office: Eight Strategies for Winning in Business Without Being a Jerk

How to succeed without being an SOB—or a pushover

Many people suffer from Nice Guy Syndrome, held back from higher levels of success by being too selfless at work. It’s a tricky problem, because if you start to think that being nice is bad, it’s easy to overcompensate with selfishness, intimidation, and intense aggression. 

The founders of Nice Guy Strategies teach that nice is not about being weak or soft—that you can hang on to your morals, compassion, and sincerity and still get ahead. The key is to draw on eight practical strategies— The Nice Guy Bill of Rights—that will help you find the right balance. 

Each chapter shares insights and stories from both ordinary nice guys and celebrity executives.

Russ Edelman, Tim Hiltabiddle, and Charles Manz are cofounders of the consulting firm Nice Guy Strategies, based in Massachusetts. Edelman is an entrepreneur who has launched two successful technology-consulting companies. Hiltabiddle is a partner and chief creative officer in a marketing firm. Manz is a chaired professor of leadership at the University of Massachusetts.