Nov
21
2014
Random acts of kindness at work: World Kindness Week
November sees the start of World Kindness Week from 24–30 November. You might be sitting asking yourself “why bother?”, especially at work. Kindness at work, believe it or not, has multiple benefits. We’re sometimes conditioned to believe that work should be dog-eat-dog, that it’s a highly competitive environment and that kindness is a weakness that won’t help us get ahead. Research tells us that this is not so. The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation has found that when we act with kindness at work, it reduces our stress levels, gives our immunity a boost, improves teamwork and increases our emotional intelligence. Not a bad return on investment for a few kind actions scattered throughout the week.
Civility at work (kindness by any other name) was also one of the four factors found by Gretchen Spreitzer, Professor of Management and Organisations at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, to consistently sustain high performance in teams. It was up there, along with feedback, autonomy and information sharing, in their research examining what enables teams to perform at their optimal level. Kindness, it seems, is not only good for your wellbeing, it’s also good for business. With that in mind, here are some suggestions for seven random acts of kindness at work, one for every day of World Kindness Week.
Day one: say "thank you"
Whether it’s a "thank you" for a job well done or for being a supportive colleague, showing your appreciation to someone who has gone the extra mile always makes a difference. Say "thank you" in person, by post-it note or with a card letting them know that they’ve done a fantastic job. Go out of your way to look for things to say "thank you" for. You’ll not only be making others feel more confident about their performance, you’ll be re-wiring your own brain to look for the positive at the same time.
Day two: smile at someone
It doesn’t take much to smile and it’s an easy way to squeeze in your random act of kindness into day two. Smiling will not only improve your mood, it will create a positive atmosphere wherever you go. If you can smile at someone you dislike, even better. This one is deceptively simple, try it and see what happens!
Day three: listen
Ok, so maybe you’re thinking “I do that all the time!”. But do you really? Listening is a real skill and when we truly listen we show that we value the other person. Try to listen mindfully, without interrupting or offering an opinion or a solution. Be truly present during your conversations, put your phone down, turn the technology off and show that you’re listening with your non-verbal communication. Support your colleagues by just ‘being there’ with them as you listen.
Day four: volunteer to help a colleague
If you notice that a colleague needs a hand, volunteer to help without being asked. It might be a helping hand with photocopying, mentoring someone who needs support, making a colleague a coffee or contributing to a tricky project. Look for situations where you can help out and act on them.
Day five: take a lunch break
This one’s for you. Step away from your computer and be kind to yourself. Take time to sit down and eat your lunch, go for a walk in the park, and, if you really want to ramp up the kindness quota, take a colleague with you.
Day six: compliment someone to their boss
The only thing better than a personal "thank you" is someone sincerely telling your boss how great you are. Look for someone who has delivered great service or done an excellent job and let their manager know about it. Not only will you leave with a warm glow, someone else will be going home with a spring in their step.
Day seven: pay it forward
Do something selfless for someone else in your team, whether it’s buying them a coffee, taking them for lunch, being the person to wash up the cups in the office kitchen, starting a ‘kindness competition’ or creating a ‘how to’ guide for the team in your area of expertise. Paying it forward will make you feel good and help to create a culture of collaboration within your team and your organisation.
As you move through World Kindness Week, notice how you feel as you commit your random acts of kindness. Watch for the impact on others and on yourself. As Archbishop Desmond Tutu said:
“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”
