How to Encourage Kindness at Work
You likely spend a lot of time at work with your coworkers. Sometimes, you even see them more than your own family. So, it’s important to try and enjoy what you do and who you work with.
Sounds fairly straightforward, right? Well, it’s often easier said than done, especially if your work culture is less-than-ideal. Competitiveness, large egos, and a mix of conflicting personalities can make it hard to thrive. Luckily, you can do a few things to help encourage kindness in your workplace.
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Be Generous With Thoughtful Gifts
Everyone is going through something at any given point. It may be relatively small — their kids are driving them nuts or they’re having car trouble. Or they may be dealing with something heavy like a chronic illness or a sick loved one. In a professional setting, you don’t always know what the rest of someone’s life looks like. So, whenever you give gifts to coworkers, try to make them thoughtful.
That doesn’t mean you need to spend hundreds of dollars on gifts for everyone. That’s unnecessary, over the top, and may even be against company policy. It does, however, mean that you should think through what you can do to brighten someone’s day.
If someone seems off, write them a card expressing how much you appreciate them. Swing by with their favorite sweet treat or coffee order as a kind gesture just because. Or, if you know they’re dealing with something big, shop for sympathy gift baskets that can make them feel cared about.
Anything you can do to brighten someone’s day makes kindness the standard. You strengthen relationships with your coworkers, making work more enjoyable, too. And you’re reinforcing the idea that work is more than the tasks being done; it’s about the people doing them.
Lead With Kindness
Organizations need leaders of all kinds, it’s not limited to those with direct reports or massive teams. Help build a culture of kindness by leading with it at every turn. That way, it becomes second nature for you and those you work closely with.
Start from the beginning of an employee’s experience at your company. When you’re in a meeting with a new hire, take time to introduce yourself to them. Recognize those who are exhibiting kindness by drawing attention to their positive impact. Most of all, infuse kindness into every work task you take on, big or small. Make it a habit so ingrained that it’s second nature to you and your leadership style.
Of course, leading with kindness isn’t always easy. Give yourself grace on the days it’s harder to do. When you feel bright and cheery, though, lean in. Go above and beyond to make someone’s day better and dish out appreciation. Make someone feel special for the work they do and how they go about doing it.
These are simple strategies you can use to encourage people to be kind at work. That way, you can help bring up those who may be struggling to find joy. Plus, being in a good mood is contagious and can make for a healthier, happier workplace.
Do the Little Things
Sometimes the most impactful actions you can take are the smallest. So, even if your schedule is packed and you’re stressed, prioritize kindness at every turn. It can change the vibe of your workplace and encourage others to be kind, too.
Start a meeting or greet a customer with a genuine smile and hello. Ask someone how their day is going and listen intently to their response. Say please and thank you when someone holds a door open for you or does you a favor.
Even something as simple as smiling in the hallway at the office can make a difference. Instead of staring down at your phone, you can make a more meaningful human interaction. The hope is that your step to smile will have a ripple effect, making small efforts of kindness the norm.
Ultimately, these seemingly small gestures combine to have a significant influence. They can be the difference between you and your coworkers having a good day or a great one. And they can certainly make the work you do that much more enjoyable, too.
Relate to Others
Relationship building is a skill that relies on a few things. One of the most influential is your ability to relate to others. Being kind when learning about someone else’s interests, passions, or work styles is a great example.
When you meet someone new who you’ve never worked with before, introduce yourself. Ask them questions about their interests or weekend adventures. Genuinely listen to their answer and reply with something that stands out or that you have in common.
Even giving someone a compliment on their outfit or a presentation can build a bridge of connection. From there, you can establish an even better professional relationship because you understand more about who they are as a person. And that can drastically influence work.
At the end of the day, people are naturally inclined to connect. That is the foundation upon which the human race was built. So, lean into that and focus on relating to others to spread kindness. You’ll create a people-first environment that can’t help but make people happier and nicer.
Happier Work Life
Cultivating a culture of kindness takes time. It’s not something you can voice and then never think about again — it requires commitment. However, when you head to work and have a genuine conversation with a coworker, know it’s working. Hang on to each example of kindness you experience throughout the day. Eventually, you may even find yourself excited to go to the office.