The Most Dangerous People on Your Team Are the Nicest

A few years ago, I had someone on the team who was great.

They showed up early. Responded quickly. Always positive.

They also never disagreed with anything I said.

At first, I thought I’d hit the jackpot — someone who “just got it.”

Then we launched a product that flopped. Post-mortem? Turns out, they had seen red flags. But they didn’t want to “step on toes.”

They thought they were being helpful. But in reality, they were just being… nice.

Saints Kill Momentum

Most leaders worry about toxic employees — the loud ones, the underperformers, the obvious headaches.

But the ones who quietly kill momentum?

They're kind. Supportive. And dangerously conflict-avoidant.

• They say yes when they should say “wait.”

• They nod in meetings, then privately share doubts.

• They avoid tension — and bury truth in the process.

But progress needs friction.

Alignment requires disagreement.

Without it, you're just building an echo chamber with better branding.

How to Spot It — And Fix It

Look for:

• People who never go first with feedback

• Smiles and nods when the room is uncertain

• Real thoughts surfacing only after things break

Then start doing this:

• Make disagreement safe — and expected

• Praise clarity, not agreeableness

• Ask “What’s wrong with this plan?” before moving forward

Nice Feels Safe. Truth Moves You Forward.

Niceness isn’t evil. But it can be expensive because unspoken tension doesn’t disappear — it compounds.

And the longer it sits, the further your team drifts from what’s real.

Don’t let “saints” be the reason your best ideas die quietly.

Instead, steer them down the road of radical candor and watch them thrive.

Best,
Peter Delle