Professional Development

Are You Too Polite? Learn the Three Faces of Communication

June 20, 2014

Can you be too nice?

A woman in one of my seminars asked if it were possible for her to be “too nice” when interacting with her employees. She told me that she often felt invisible with them. Since I teach etiquette, some of you may be surprised that I answered “Yes, you can be too nice.” Let me explain.

A few years ago I created The Three Faces of Communication model to help people understand their communication style. Everyone falls somewhere along the spectrum of Too Nice, Polite and Powerful, and The Tough One.

Do you know where you are on this continuum?

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About the Author
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Barbara Pachter
Barbara Pachter is an internationally-renowned business etiquette and communications speaker, coach and author of 11 books. She has delivered more than 2500 seminars throughout the world including the first-ever seminar for businesswomen in Kuwait. Pachter is also adjunct faculty in the School of Business at Rutgers University and Coadjutant Lecturer in the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy. Her latest book, The Communication Clinic: 99 Proven Cures for the Most Common Business Mistakes, was published in December, 2016 (McGraw Hill). Pachter's client list boasts many of today's most notable organizations, including Bayer, Campbell Soup, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Chrysler, Cleveland Clinic, Microsoft, Novartis, Pfizer, and Wawa. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Michigan. Pachter is a former ESL teacher.