– English Lyrics

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

I think we should abandon niceness if we

really want to enable excellence in our

teams. Niceness is superficial and thin.

We should prioritize kindness over

niceness. Niceness allows people to

ignore poor performance, to not give

feedback in a moment

because it's inherently selfish. Whereas

kindness forces people

to challenge convention and to give

calculated, granular, objective

feedback.

It also means doing it in a way that is

thoughtful, generous, and mindful. And

embracing of what's difficult for you

because you know it's better for the

collective. That people aren't just

units of productivity.

They're people. Prioritizing kindness

over niceness

means prioritizing the benefit and

enhancement of others over personal

anxieties or foibles.

It means speaking up and speaking out to

people in moments where you'd prefer not

to.

It means recognizing people in moments

where it might highlight some personal

insecurities.

Just remember the temptation is niceness

always in teams because niceness is it

takes less energy. It takes less effort.

It takes less personal conviction.

Whereas kindness is the opposite.

Kindness requires

empathy

and embracing of what's difficult for

you because you know it's better for the

collective.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
abandon /əˈbændən/ B2	verb - to cease to support or look after; to desert.
excellence /ˈeksələns/ B2	noun - the quality of being outstanding or extremely good.
superficial /ˌsuːpəˈfɪʃl/ C1	adjective - existing or occurring at or on the surface; lacking depth.
prioritize /praɪˈɒrətaɪz/ B2	verb - to treat something as being more important than other things.
inherently /ɪnˈherəntli/ C1	adjective - in a permanent, essential, or characteristic way.
convention /kənˈvenʃn/ B2	noun - a way in which something is usually done.
calculated /ˈkælkjuleɪtɪd/ B2	adjective - done with awareness of the likely consequences.
granular /ˈɡrænjələ(r)/ C2	adjective - consisting of small grains or particles; detailed.
collective /kəˈlektɪv/ B2	noun - a cooperative enterprise or group.
productivity /ˌprɒdʌkˈtɪvəti/ B2	noun - the state or quality of being productive.
enhancement /ɪnˈhɑːnsmənt/ B2	noun - an increase or improvement in quality, value, or extent.
anxieties /æŋˈzaɪətiz/ B2	noun - feelings of worry, nervousness, or unease.
foibles /ˈfɔɪblz/ C2	noun - a minor weakness or eccentricity in someone's character.
insecurities /ˌɪnsɪˈkjʊərətiz/ B2	noun - uncertainty or anxiety about oneself; lack of confidence.
conviction /kənˈvɪkʃn/ C1	noun - a firmly held belief or opinion.

Key Grammar Structures

• I think we should abandon niceness if we really want to enable excellence in our teams.

  ➔ First Conditional (if + present simple, will/modal verb)

  ➔ Used "if" to express a real possibility. "If we really want..." suggests a condition for a desired outcome.

• Niceness allows people to ignore poor performance.

  ➔ Causative/Transitive verb structure (allow + object + to-infinitive)

  ➔ The verb "allow" is followed by the object "people" and an infinitive verb.

• Whereas kindness forces people to challenge convention.

  ➔ Conjunction (Whereas) to contrast ideas

  ➔ "Whereas" is used to highlight the contrast between the previous negative view of niceness and the positive view of kindness.

• It also means doing it in a way that is thoughtful, generous, and mindful.

  ➔ Relative Clause (that is thoughtful...)

  ➔ The clause "that is thoughtful..." modifies the noun phrase "a way".

• They're people. Prioritizing kindness over niceness means prioritizing the benefit and enhancement of others.

  ➔ Gerund as Subject (Prioritizing...)

  ➔ "Prioritizing" acts as a noun to represent the concept of making kindness more important.

• It means speaking up and speaking out to people in moments where you'd prefer not to.

  ➔ Modal of preference (would prefer)

  ➔ "Would prefer" is used to express a polite or softened preference about a choice.

• Just remember the temptation is niceness always in teams because niceness is it takes less energy.

  ➔ Causal clause (because)

  ➔ "Because" connects the fact (niceness is the temptation) with the reason (it requires less energy).

• Kindness requires empathy and embracing of what's difficult for you.

  ➔ Nominalization (embracing of...)

  ➔ The verb "embrace" is turned into the noun "embracing" to describe the act of accepting difficulty.