Russ Edelman
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What is the impact on your business when 61% of your employees are considered “too nice”? Our surveys indicate that the short term effects of being “too nice” in business include a reduction in profits by 8% with even more substantial long term results.

Russ Edelman, founder of Nice Guy Strategies, LLC (NGS), has long considered this an important topic. His experience as a business executive and serial entrepreneur, coupled with his own Nice Guy propensity, spurred his interest into how nice guys fare in the business world. Further research led him to formulate a practical framework of knowledge on the subject to help nice guys and their managers. In his new book, “Nice Guys Can Get The Corner Office”, Russ shares 8 key strategies to help overly nice guys become “Effectively Nice.”

One might ask, “What’s wrong with being a nice guy – one that is hardworking, conscientious, and amenable?” Nothing, except when he suffers from the Nice Guy Syndrome – overly nice behaviors which lead to a lack of effectiveness, leadership, and long-term success. In surveying over 350 nice guys (and gals) as well as 25 high profile executives, Russ’s research uncovered that the cost of the Nice Guy Syndrome in Business is too real for both nice guys and their organizations. A nice guy left to his own well-intentioned devices could actually hinder his career and adversely affect his company. By not changing his thought processes and actions, his ineffectual behavior can lead to breakdowns in productivity and workplace relationships, eventually thwarting success. This leaves a nice guy feeling exploited, frustrated, and overworked.

Nice Guy Strategies, LLC is Russ’s third business venture. In addition to serving as CEO of Corridor Consulting, Inc, Russ regularly speaks and writes on key business and technology trends for the finance and IT industries he serves. As a highly regarded analyst, he pushes the envelope in understanding, analyzing, and explaining key industry trends to global constituencies.

Blog Entries by Russ Edelman

"Pepe Le Pews" of Social Networking & Directed Evangelism

Posted February 7, 2011 | 02/07/11 06:45 PM ET

We all know them. The people in your office who are so engrossed with social networking that they want to suck you into their world whenever possible. It may seem somewhat interesting, but please... give it a break! In reality, these people, often so well-intended, become a nuisance if they...

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Change - A Call To Action For All Of Us - Thank you President Obama!

Posted January 20, 2009 | 01/20/09 10:20 PM ET

Change...
A Call To Action For All Of Us
Thank you President Obama!

For most people, it is easy to assume that leaders, political, business and religious, will carry the day by genuinely changing that which requires repair. However, leaders embracing and driving change is only one...

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Why Should I Care About the Nice Guys When the SOB's Have Screwed Up the Economy?

Posted November 7, 2008 | 11/07/08 01:41 PM ET

Enron, MCI, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Lehman Brothers and so many others... all of these organizations started with ideals and somehow, corruption and/or deceit infiltrated their walls and now they are all fallen giants of a bygone era. The media and judiciary have rightfully gone after the corrupt leadership and...

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Psssst... Now, more so then ever, it's ok to Speak-up and ask for Referrals....

Posted October 22, 2008 | 10/22/08 10:54 AM ET

Too often, overly nice guys have a tendency to avoid imposing on their customers for the purpose of soliciting referrals. Instead, they'd rather stick their heads in the sand and avoid the situation entirely. In fact, the mere mention of requesting assistance is an encumbrance that no righteously minded nice...

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Sarah Palin and Female Leaders -- The Pointless Magnification of Glass Ceilings

Posted September 11, 2008 | 09/11/08 12:40 AM ET

Sarah Palin made a big splash during the Republican National Convention (RNC) on September 3, 2008 as she tore into her Democratic adversaries, Senator's Barack Obama and Joseph Biden. Since that night, she has undergone a different, albeit expected, level of scrutiny; one that has nothing to do with her...

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Nice Guy Syndrome: The Plight of the Corporate Martyr

Posted July 31, 2008 | 07/31/08 02:15 PM ET

Most of us know them. They are the well-liked co-workers who continuously put the job and their co-workers in front of their own needs. They fall on their swords to help others out, regardless of whether they will survive the 'battle' or sustain 'injury'. They do it in the name...

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Can Nice Guys Get The Oval Office?

Posted July 1, 2008 | 07/01/08 04:30 PM ET

Since Barack Obama's splash into the political landscape as a junior senator, he has built a platform on intellect, compassion, change, creativity and humbleness. In many respects, this humbleness translates into people realizing that he is authentic and that he is nice. In fact, being a "nice guy" has been...

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