--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When bosses are too invested in everyone…" description: "\"“When bosses are too invested in everyone getting along they also fail to encourage the people on their team to criticize one another other for fear of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/kim-malone-scott-21807_bosses_when-bosses-are-too-invested-in-everyone_2284938.jpg" --- # When bosses are too invested in everyone getting along… ![“When bosses are too invested in everyone getting along they also fail to encourage the people on their team to criticize one another other for fear of sowing discord. They create the kind of work environment where being "nice" is prioritized at the expense of critiquing and therefore improving…” quote by Kim Malone Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/kim-malone-scott-21807_bosses_when-bosses-are-too-invested-in-everyone_2284938.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/kim-malone-scott-21807_bosses_when-bosses-are-too-invested-in-everyone_2284938.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/kim-malone-scott-21807_bosses_when-bosses-are-too-invested-in-everyone_2284938.jpg) > ““When bosses are too invested in everyone getting along they also fail to encourage the people on their team to criticize one another other for fear of sowing discord. They create the kind of work environment where being "nice" is prioritized at the expense of critiquing and therefore improving actual performance.”” [Kim Malone Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-malone-scott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prioritizing harmony over honest critique stifles growth; teams need respectful disagreement to improve. **In simple terms:** Being nice can hurt performance if criticism is avoided. Key Takeaway Encourage constructive feedback while maintaining respect. Themes leadership team dynamics feedback performance Mood thoughtful analytical Type advisory instructional When to use this quote - team meetings - performance reviews - project debriefs - coaching sessions Key Concepts psychological safety critical thinking organizational culture Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders balance kindness with honest critique? - What structures support healthy dissent? A Different Perspective Too much conflict can damage morale if not managed well. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bosses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bosses/) [Bosses Invested](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bosses-invested-5346478/) [Critiquing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critiquing-887419/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Getting along](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-along/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [People Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-team-773508/) [Team Criticize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team-criticize-5346479/) [Work environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-environment/) ## Related quotes > [ As for the criticism we receive, you know, even Mr. \[Donald\] Trump's team criticize us. For instance, one of the participants or members of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/as-for-the-criticism-we-receive-you-know-even-mr-donald-trump-s-team/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [“SOME COMPANIES PUT a lot of effort into bringing employees together outside of the office. It might be a happy hour, or a holiday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-malone-scott/some-companies-put-a-lot-of-effort-into-bringing-employees-together/) [Kim Malone Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-malone-scott/) > [Critiquing relieves you of the responsibility of doing integrative thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/critiquing-relieves-you-of-the-responsibility-of-doing-integrative/) [Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/) > [One of the things that's hardest as an actor is you are being critiqued constantly, and having your mother critiquing you can be challenging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyra-sedgwick/one-of-the-things-that-s-hardest-as-an-actor-is-you-are-being/) [Kyra Sedgwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyra-sedgwick/) > [We spend so much time condemning, critiquing, and copying culture we miss on actually changing it. Be a creator not a hater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/we-spend-so-much-time-condemning-critiquing-and-copying-culture-we/) [LeCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [“Stop admiring the view,” he said. “Critiquing it,” I lied,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roshani-chokshi/stop-admiring-the-view-he-said-critiquing-it-i-lied/) [Roshani Chokshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roshani-chokshi/) > [If you could do what I do then you wouldn't be a hater/writer critiquing me, you would be my opponent facing me on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behdad-sami/if-you-could-do-what-i-do-then-you-wouldn-t-be-a-hater-writer/) [Behdad Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behdad-sami/) > [You can't be an artist while you're producing, because you'll be over-critiquing the producer part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valee/you-can-t-be-an-artist-while-you-re-producing-because-you-ll-be-over/) [Valee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valee/) > [The majority of the time... the people that are critiquing and bashing me, they're making me more relevant, I would think. If you didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-reigns/the-majority-of-the-time-the-people-that-are-critiquing-and-bashing/) [Roman Reigns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-reigns/) > [I tend to write songs critiquing myself. The best way for me to deal with stuff is to write a song about it... That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-segall/i-tend-to-write-songs-critiquing-myself-the-best-way-for-me-to-deal/) [Ty Segall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-segall/) > [“Sex is an activity that can always use critiquing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-skeete/sex-is-an-activity-that-can-always-use-critiquing/) [Kelly Skeete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-skeete/) > [I'll definitely pay attention to someone who is critiquing the artwork. But as far as someone not thinking street harassment is a big deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatyana-fazlalizadeh/i-ll-definitely-pay-attention-to-someone-who-is-critiquing-the/) [Tatyana Fazlalizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatyana-fazlalizadeh/) > [Nothing is taboo if you have an angle on it. That said, critiquing women's human shells isn't my thang. Though there's probably something funny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/nothing-is-taboo-if-you-have-an-angle-on-it-that-said-critiquing/) [Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/) > [I am very critical of myself. I can never just sit back and enjoy the movie. I find myself critiquing myself a lot, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hutcherson/i-am-very-critical-of-myself-i-can-never-just-sit-back-and-enjoy-the/) [Josh Hutcherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hutcherson/) > [Its always great when a director is just supportive of what youre doing. Theyre not so much critiquing you but giving you more ideas,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-roberts/its-always-great-when-a-director-is-just-supportive-of-what-youre/) [Emma Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-roberts/) ## More by Kim Malone Scott > [“to communicate clearly enough so that there’s no room for interpretation, but also humbly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-malone-scott/to-communicate-clearly-enough-so-that-there-s-no-room-for/) [Kim Malone Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-malone-scott/) > [“That’s why it’s crucial to remind people that an important part of Radically Candid relationships is opening yourself to the possibility of connecting with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-malone-scott/that-s-why-it-s-crucial-to-remind-people-that-an-important-part-of/) [Kim Malone Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-malone-scott/) > [“Relationships may not scale, but culture does.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-malone-scott/relationships-may-not-scale-but-culture-does/) [Kim Malone Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-malone-scott/) > [“You may be worried about earning their respect, and that’s natural. Unfortunately, though, being overly focused on respect can backfire because it’ll make you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-malone-scott/you-may-be-worried-about-earning-their-respect-and-that-s-natural/) [Kim Malone Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-malone-scott/) > [“I used to keep a box of tissues in my office in case of tears. Then a person I worked with made a habit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-malone-scott/i-used-to-keep-a-box-of-tissues-in-my-office-in-case-of-tears-then-a/) [Kim Malone Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-malone-scott/) > [“A good rule of thumb for any relationship is to leave three unimportant things unsaid each day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-malone-scott/a-good-rule-of-thumb-for-any-relationship-is-to-leave-three/) [Kim Malone Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-malone-scott/) > [“Here’s what I need to do to stay centered: sleep eight hours, exercise for forty-five minutes, and have both breakfast and dinner with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-malone-scott/here-s-what-i-need-to-do-to-stay-centered-sleep-eight-hours-exercise/) [Kim Malone Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-malone-scott/) > [“When you do organize a social event at work, bear these warnings in mind: even non-mandatory events can feel mandatory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-malone-scott/when-you-do-organize-a-social-event-at-work-bear-these-warnings-in/) [Kim Malone Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-malone-scott/) > [“Jobs articulated this approach more gently in an interview with Terry Gross: “At Apple we hire people to tell us what to do, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-malone-scott/jobs-articulated-this-approach-more-gently-in-an-interview-with-terry/) [Kim Malone Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-malone-scott/) > [“Is it my job to build a great company," I asked, " or am I really just some sort of emotional babysitter?" …"This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-malone-scott/is-it-my-job-to-build-a-great-company-i-asked-or-am-i-really-just/) [Kim Malone Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-malone-scott/) > [“SOME COMPANIES PUT a lot of effort into bringing employees together outside of the office. It might be a happy hour, or a holiday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-malone-scott/some-companies-put-a-lot-of-effort-into-bringing-employees-together/) [Kim Malone Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-malone-scott/) > [“The fastest path to artificial relationships at work, and to the gravitational pull of organizational mediocrity, is to insist that everyone have the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-malone-scott/the-fastest-path-to-artificial-relationships-at-work-and-to-the/) [Kim Malone Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-malone-scott/) > [“In Managing at Apple, we often played a video of Steve explaining his approach to giving criticism. He captured something very important: “You need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-malone-scott/in-managing-at-apple-we-often-played-a-video-of-steve-explaining-his/) [Kim Malone Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-malone-scott/) > [“Richard Tedlow’s biography of Andy Grove, Intel’s legendary CEO, asserts that management and leadership are like forehand and backhand. You have to be good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-malone-scott/richard-tedlow-s-biography-of-andy-grove-intel-s-legendary-ceo/) [Kim Malone Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-malone-scott/) > [“The essence of leadership is not getting overwhelmed by circumstances.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-malone-scott/the-essence-of-leadership-is-not-getting-overwhelmed-by-circumstances/) [Kim Malone Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-malone-scott/) [Explore all 28 Kim Malone Scott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-malone-scott/) ## More Bosses quotes > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) [Darlene Senger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darlene-senger/) > [My work is a love for me; I'd do it for free, but don't tell my bosses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chick-hearn/my-work-is-a-love-for-me-i-d-do-it-for-free-but-don-t-tell-my-bosses/) [Chick Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chick-hearn/) > [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [“For some employers, there is no more glorious work than work done for free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamerlan-kuzgov/for-some-employers-there-is-no-more-glorious-work-than-work-done-for/) [Tamerlan Kuzgov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamerlan-kuzgov/) > [Congressional staff members do have a considerable amount of responsibility. But in my experience, the loyalty of the vast majority of staffers to their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-harwood/congressional-staff-members-do-have-a-considerable-amount-of/) [John Harwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-harwood/) > [Throughout my entire career as a coach, I've never had a boss. Presidents have been able to hire and fire me. But that didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jupp-heynckes/throughout-my-entire-career-as-a-coach-i-ve-never-had-a-boss/) [Jupp Heynckes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jupp-heynckes/) > [In a world of bosses, you are your own master](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grogan/in-a-world-of-bosses-you-are-your-own-master/) [John Grogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grogan/) > [I feel very lucky to have served under some great bosses. The majority of them were men, but I have also had a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-alexander/i-feel-very-lucky-to-have-served-under-some-great-bosses-the-majority/) [Megan Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-alexander/) > [“A boss over steps the boundaries of good taste and the implied condition of good faith in an employment agreement whenever they demand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/a-boss-over-steps-the-boundaries-of-good-taste-and-the-implied/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [I think there are too many bosses in Washington telling Nashville Diesel College and Harvard University how to run - how to run their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-alexander/i-think-there-are-too-many-bosses-in-washington-telling-nashville/) [Lamar Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-alexander/) > [Every man, they say, 'oh my wife is my boss.' So why can't they be bosses at work?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/every-man-they-say-oh-my-wife-is-my-boss-so-why-can-t-they-be-bosses/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [The key to being a good manager is keeping the people who hate you away from those who are still undecided.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-key-to-being-a-good-manager-is-keeping-the-people-who-hate-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Assume everything you put on the Internet can and will be seen not only by the person you're talking about, but your future romantic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-wilson/assume-everything-you-put-on-the-internet-can-and-will-be-seen-not/) [Mara Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-wilson/) > [We all dislike our bosses sometimes. It's only natural they have the power of our jobs in there hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/we-all-dislike-our-bosses-sometimes-it-s-only-natural-they-have-the/) [Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/) > [“No! I'm not ready, this is still my first cup of coffee!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/no-i-m-not-ready-this-is-still-my-first-cup-of-coffee/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) [Browse all 137 Bosses quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bosses/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When bosses are too invested in everyone getting along they also fail to encourage the people on their team to criticize one another other for fear of sowing discord. 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