A new study found that if you want to get ahead at work, you can't just point out what's wrong and how to fix it. You might need to coddle your co-workers and be supportive of their work . . . even if it SUCKS.
Researchers at Iowa State found that using a supportive tone . . . which they called "supportive voice" . . . tends to be better than a "challenging voice." "Challenging voice" means you point out what's wrong and how to fix it. "Supportive voice" means you still do that, but in a way that's more positive and focuses on what's going right.
They found that using a challenging tone DOES have its benefits, like making you seem more competent and capable. But we're more likely to want to work and collaborate with people who approach things in a supportive way. Ideally, you'd have a perfect mix of both. It's just hard to do, so trying to be more supportive is a good default.
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