The Challenge of Balancing Niceness and Authenticity in Uncomfortable Situations

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Exploring people's tendency to be overly nice and generic in awkward situations, the chapter discusses research findings on verbal and nonverbal behaviors, physiological responses, and stress reactions during social interactions. The speaker emphasizes the difficulties individuals face in giving honest feedback or expressing true feelings in uncomfortable social settings.

Are you "too nice" at work? Social psychologist Tessa West shares her research on how people attempt to mask anxiety with overly polite feedback — a practice that's more harmful than helpful — and gives three tips to swap generic, unhelpful observations with clear, consistent feedback, even when you feel awkward. After the talk, Modupe shares useful tips on how to share constructive criticism.