February is Black History and Black Futures Month, a reminder that honouring Black history is not only about reflection, but also about engaging with the ideas, leadership, and work actively shaping our present and future.
With that in mind, I am intentionally centering one Black author this month, Amira Barger, and her book, The Price of Nice (or, for me, the audio version). Rather than creating a long reading list, I am choosing depth over breadth, spending time with a work that challenges one of the most normalised expectations in professional culture, the pressure to be “nice.”
Polite but Problematic: The Price of Niceness
From the book’s summary and Amira’s recent interviews, The Price of Nice explores how workplace niceness, often framed as professionalism, can quietly undermine growth for employees at all levels, not just leaders.
We are taught that being agreeable preserves harmony, that smoothing over tension is the right approach, and that discomfort signals a problem. But what if discomfort is actually data?
Amira shares the insight that work is “a feelings factory where we happen to get paid.” Emotions are not distractions from performance, they are signals. They reveal inequities, misalignment, risk, and opportunities for change. So, when niceness becomes socially policed and unevenly enforced, it can:
- Silence necessary dissent
- Protect the status quo
- Dilute urgent feedback
- Frame disagreement as negativity
- Encourage self-censorship
- Allow microaggressions or inequities to persist unchecked
Over time, workplaces do not become healthier, they become quieter. Employees at every level may feel unsafe speaking up, undermining psychological safety, which is essential for learning, growth, and inclusion.
Importantly, this is not an argument against kindness. It is a call to distinguish between kindness rooted in respect and niceness performed to preserve comfort. Healthy workplaces make room for respectful discomfort, allow ideas to be challenged, and ensure microaggressions can be addressed, without penalising anyone who raises concerns.
Why Tough Conversations May Be Worth It
In recent podcast conversations, Amira expands on these ideas, showing how comfort can quietly keep organisations stuck, how microaggressions or inequities can be normalised under the guise of niceness, and why courageous conversations are essential for meaningful progress, whether you are a frontline employee, a manager, or an executive.
For those who want to learn more about Amira and this theme, here are two of her recent interviews:
Centering Amira Barger’s work this month is one way for anyone, at any level, to actively question inherited workplace norms, rethink what professionalism really means, and consider how we build environments that prioritise honesty, accountability, psychological safety, and inclusion over superficial comfort.
This February, I am reflecting on how I can lean into fostering a workplace culture that values courage over comfort. How are you recognising and engaging with Black History and Black Futures Month in your work, your reading, or your community this year?
The Middle Slice 