Being “amenable and helpful” at work isn’t a bad thing, but people-pleasing won’t further your career, according to Kate Mason, PhD.
Many professionals feel that saying ‘yes’ to every ask is necessary to maintain positive relationships in the workplace, says Mason, a communications coach and author of “Powerfully Likeable: A Woman’s Guide to Effective Communication.”
“Culturally, we have coupled likability with deference,” she says. “We think that in order to be likable, in order for people to think I’m great or to want to be around me, I must accept every inbound request.”
However, we do ourselves a disservice when we “bend over backwards” to accommodate others, Mason says.
People-pleasers often neglect their own needs in their quest to be helpful, which can lead to resentment and burnout, clinical psychologist Debbie Sorensen told CNBC Make It in 2023. Additionally, employees who take on too many tasks may struggle with “chronic stress” due to overwork.
