Amira Barger

Ever wondered if being “nice” at work could actually be making everything worse? Picture this: a leader so shielded by everyone’s politeness that a single, cringeworthy comment in the halls of Congress nearly tanks a $9 million deal—while everyone else sits silent, protecting comfort over honesty. Turns out, our obsession with not rocking the boat isn’t just awkward... it can be downright destructive. But here’s the twist: the real danger isn’t ego or greed. It’s this sneaky, everyday culture of niceness that’s quietly costing us big, more than we realize. So what’s the true price we pay for keeping the peace, and how can we start to flip the script? Amira K.S. Barger, MBA, CVA, CFRE is an award-winning communications and change management executive, author, and professor. She is on the podcast talking about her new book The Price of Nice.