"Nice Guys Finish Last"—yeah, we’ve all heard it (and let's be honest, it’s also a killer Green Day track that perfectly captures the angst of being the sympathetic, helpful type who gets steamrolled by the jerks). But here’s the good news: it’s time to toss that outdated belief out the window.
Good news for all the nice folks out there: Recent research by two UC Berkeley academics has tracked disagreeable people—those with selfish, combative, and manipulative personalities—from their college or grad school days to where they ended up in their careers 14 years later. The findings? Nice people don’t finish last, and being a jerk doesn’t get you ahead.
No matter the context, disagreeableness didn’t give people an edge in climbing the corporate ladder, even in super competitive organizational cultures. According to researchers Cameron Anderson, Oliver John, and Christopher Soto, jerks do reach positions of power, but not any faster than others. Any slight advantage they might gain is quickly offset by poor interpersonal relationships. So, the myth that being a jerk will get you ahead? Consider it officially busted.
So, what’s the takeaway from all this academic wisdom? When it comes to climbing the ladder, there’s more than one way to do it—but some ways are better than others. The researchers found four main strategies people use to gain power: wielding fear and intimidation, cozying up to influential folks, helping others, and simply being good at your job.
Here’s the kicker: while each of these paths has its place, the real magic happens when you build strong alliances. Yep, relationships matter—a lot. Whether you’re navigating office politics or just trying to make your mark in the world, it turns out that who you know (and how well you work with them) is just as crucial as what you know. So, if you’re aiming for power, forget the old “nice guys finish last” mantra. Instead, focus on being the kind of person people want in their corner.
-jamie
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