In many people’s eyes you are special because you are in a leadership position. If you’re in a leadership position it could also be said you are on top. You may have earned the title or it’s possible it was a gift.

The reality is that since you’re on top it should be much easier to be nice to people than not. I see the “than not” frequently in my travels. How can that be? It should be just the opposite.

When you treat people nicely, you’re more likely to encourage them to do what you want. People want to please their leader. They are more likely to do so when the leader is nice and treats them with respect.

If you want productivity to go up, trying being nice. You don’t lose respect by being nice. You lose respect when you’re not nice.

Being nice works best when you can show humility. In Rick Pitino’s recent book “The One-Day Contract,” he points out that “With humility, you are better able to enjoy and understand success, and you are better able to examine and handle failure.”

People on the top in sports, movies, celebrities and high profile people are often not very nice. You know the ones I’m talking about. They are often jerks.

Don’t be a jerk. Just be nice because that’s what real leaders can and should do. That’s all I’m gonna say. Tommy Gibbs