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People pleasers come in many forms. I’ve met with business leaders who lost sleep because they were terrified of confrontation. And I’ve seen entrepreneurs fail because they couldn’t stand to make a decision that wasn’t popular.
Their reasons for trying to make people happy vary. For some, it’s a learned behavior that originates in childhood. For others, the attempt to make everyone happy stems from the desire to be polite.
If you tend to say yes to things that you don’t want to do, or you avoid speaking up because you don’t want to upset anyone, here are five things you should remember:
1. You aren’t responsible for other people’s emotions.
Whether you tend to do everything your partner wants, or you strive to make your co-workers like you, your people-pleasing efforts bear too much responsibility. Everyone is in charge of their emotions. You can’t make anyone feel happy.
It’s up to other people to cope with uncomfortable feelings like disappointment or anger. It’s not your job to protect them from those things.
2. People pleasers are easily manipulated.
Quite often, you can spot a people pleaser a mile away. And the more an individual says yes to requests, the more things are asked of her.
People pleasers become easy targets. Someone may ask favors of them by saying things like, “I hate to ask you this, but…” or “I wouldn’t ask anyone else, but you’re such a good friend.” Whether you feel guilted into doing something, or you feel honored that you’ve been entrusted with a favor, you may be easily manipulated when your goal is to please people.
3. Your choices will always be unfavorable to some people.
There isn’t a single service or product that will please everyone. Just look at product reviews. One person says it’s the best thing since sliced bread. The next person says the same product was a complete rip-off.
Even minor business decisions are the same. Whether you’re talking about moving the holiday party to a new venue or you’re thinking about updating your software, some people will cheer while others grumble. It’s impossible to make decisions that please everyone.
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4. Trying to please people drains your resources.
Trying to please everyone will rob you of mental strength. The more you think about whether someone is going to be upset or how to phrase your decision in a way that isn’t offensive, the fewer resources you’ll have to devote to the decisions that matter most.
Worrying, ruminating, and rehashing conversations won’t help you get anywhere. If you spent that same time and energy being productive, you’d accomplish much more.
5. Attempting to please others is actually a bit selfish.
One of the most common reasons I hear people say they can’t say no is because they don’t want to appear selfish. But in reality, the need to always be liked is actually a bit selfish.
Saying yes to things you don’t want to do will cause you to feel resentful. And that will damage your relationship. Setting healthy boundaries and preserving the relationship—even at the risk that someone may get angry—is far less selfish.
Staying True to Your Values
People pleasing can become a bad habit that causes you to lose sight of your values—either your personal values or your organization’s mission. Learning to tolerate people being upset with you can be hard, but it’s essential to reaching your goals.
Your words and your behavior must be in line with your beliefs before you can be truly authentic. And authenticity is the key to becoming your best self.
Amy Morin is a psychotherapist, speaker, and the author of the bestselling book 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do.
