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Kindness in the workplace matters… but why?
Whether you are in a higher management role or a starter position, showing kindness to your coworkers comes with countless benefits. It creates a more positive place to work which can lead to a more productive space, opens you up to opportunities, and in general, promotes a culture of respect and a positive work environment. Here are 7 effective ways to spread kindness in the workplace.
kind·ness
Per the Oxford English dictionary is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. It is important to note that kindness is not the same as niceness. Kindness doesn’t mean compromising your ability to be genuine. It is a choice, a choice to be considerate to others but also know when it is correct to stand up for yourself, albeit in a very respectful manner.
1. Practice Self-Awareness Whether In Person Or Via Electronic Communication
Being aware of your tone of voice when responding to a coworker even when you have an opposing view is so important. Your body language can say so much about how you feel and controlling the way you speak or your gestures can create a more positive outcome in a heated debate.
Adrienne Bankert, the author of “Your Hidden Superpower: The Kindness That Makes You Unbeatable at Work and Connects You with Anyone” recommends that when you are about to possibly have an outburst, try to take a step back and think, what if someone had a camera and they could record my response and show it to everyone. It is not about using a scare tactic but it is about remembering how you are perceived by others.
Electronic communications in the workplace such as emails or messages can lead to miscommunication. A good way to avoid conveying a message that you don’t intend via written text is to re-read your email draft before you click send. Think to yourself, how do you perceive your tone in your email draft? Can your email message be misinterpreted? Just take a quick look before hitting send.
2. Listen To What Your Coworkers Have To Say
Listening to others not only shows that what someone says matters but can also help improve communication. You can learn so much about the people you work alongside by simply hearing things that they say about their personal life, their work preferences, and their work style. It’s a plus if you can remember things that they said previously and ask them about them afterward. For example, if they talk about a sick relative, try to ask them how their relative is doing the next day.
Sometimes, all a person needs is to be listened to. You never know what battles someone is fighting internally and knowing that there is someone out there that is genuinely interested in what they have to say is an excellent way to connect and build trust.
3. Share Your Knowledge With Others
Kindness means to also share what you know regarding your role or processes in the company. This includes sharing best practices that help you work efficiently.
There is a common misconception that if you share your knowledge with your peers, you may be easily replaced. If you do a great job, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Additionally, when you are giving people great tools to work with and creating a more productive team, management and other team members will definitely take notice.
4. Recognize Your Coworkers’ Actions and Achievements
Praising your coworker and providing positive feedback when they do something noteworthy can truly create a positive environment at work. Them knowing that their actions are being considered can help them stay motivated and continue doing a good job.
You can submit praise in a team meeting, via email, or by letting their manager know they are doing a good job. Don’t let good actions at work go unnoticed. It only takes a few minutes but it can really brighten up someone’s day.
5. Help Your Coworkers When Necessary
It can be difficult to take some time off of a busy day to help a peer with a task but if someone trusts you enough to ask you for help, lending a hand is the best option. If a coworker has a problem and reaches out to you, it means that they trust you and that you can help them solve the said issue.
6. Don’t Micromanage, Instead Trust That Others Can Do A Good Job
There are moments when you may believe that the way someone is approaching a particular problem at work is not the best way to go about it, or you may simply believe they are not doing enough. It can be tempting to jump in and solve it for them or do it on their behalf. However, showing kindness means trusting others, trusting that they are capable and able to do said task.
Attempting to control everything that happens in the workplace and micromanaging others will not allow people to grow. It can only create fractured work relationships. Learn to trust, encourage your peers, and of course help when it is asked of you but don’t try to solve every single problem at hand on your own.
7. Bring Treats To Work!
This is possibly the oldest trick in the book but it is a very tried and proven way to show others that you care. Bringing in donuts to the office or candy for others to enjoy can really brighten up an otherwise plain work morning. Bringing treats to work is more than just bringing a snack for your coworkers. It is a wonderful way to connect.
Learn more about the importance of kindness in the workplace with the podcast episode from AlltheHacks: How Kindness Can Make You Unbeatable at Work and Connect You with Anyone. This is one of my favorite podcasts and it inspired me to write this post.
