Monday November 13th is World Kindness Day, a perfect opportunity for all of us to reflect on how we can nurture kindness and empathy in our workplaces. At The Thrive Team, kindness is one of our core values.
“The individuals in The Thrive Team are united by a shared belief that kindness, empathy and mutual respect is the greatest enabler of motivated, highly functioning teams in the long term”
We believe that organisations don’t thrive unless people care. We don’t think you can develop people or teams without kindness, respect and care for their experience.
In this spirit, we wanted to share some thoughts on the power of kindness at work and provide some simple, actionable ways we can demonstrate more kindness in our daily interactions. Recent research shows just how profoundly kindness can impact happiness and success in the workplace.
The Benefits of Workplace Kindness
Research shows that kindness has concrete benefits for both individuals and organisations. Simple acts of consideration for colleagues, like asking how their weekend was or thanking them for their work, can boost morale, productivity, and retention. Teams that support each other through challenges with empathy and compassion are more resilient.
Kindness also has a contagious ripple effect. When we go out of our way to help someone, they are in turn, more likely to help others. As one Forbes article put it, “Acts of kindness can become the tying bond within the workplace that supersedes title, income or any other superficial ranking system.”
Here are some other benefits of workplace kindness:
- Employees who report that their managers are caring are happier at work. In one survey of over 1,300 employees, kindness from one’s boss was found to be the biggest predictor of happiness in the workplace, even more than income (kindness.org).
- 92% of employees say they’re more likely to apply to companies that list kindness as a value in job postings (kindness.org).
- Companies who nurture kindness see concrete benefits to their bottom line, not just their employees’ wellbeing (kindness.org).
- Recognising employees with compliments reduces burnout and absenteeism. It makes people feel more fulfilled and boosts self-esteem (Gallup).
- Leaders who model giving praise and recognition motivate others to pay that kindness forward, cascading generosity through the organisation (University of California San Diego).
Encouraging Workplace Kindness
While creating a kind workplace can seem like an intangible goal, there are some simple, concrete actions that we can take:
- Start meetings with personal check-ins to show care for the whole person. Open up discussions with a personal touch. Ask about everyone’s well-being or their weekend plans. Showing that you care about them as individuals fosters a sense of connection. Take a look at our Weekly Wellbeing Check-Up as a guide.
- Send written notes or instant messages to recognise wins and milestones. Praise should be specific and authentic. Celebrate achievements, big or small. A simple “Great job on that presentation” or “Congratulations on meeting your deadline” can go a long way in making someone feel valued.
- If you notice someone struggling, have an empathetic conversation to see how you can help. Approach colleagues who may be going through a tough time and offer a listening ear. Sometimes, all someone needs is to know that their struggles are acknowledged. You may find our Wellbeing Conversations Guide useful to help you to structure these conversations.
- Set boundaries around workloads and after-hours contact to prevent burnout. Ensure that employees have a healthy work-life balance. Encourage them to take breaks, use their annual leave, and disconnect from work after hours. Additionally, offering flexible working arrangements will demonstrate a commitment to employee wellbeing, allowing them to better balance their personal and professional lives. It shows kindness in action.
- Meet 1:1 with colleagues to establish genuine connections beyond work tasks. Take time to get to know your colleagues on a personal level. Building genuine connections beyond work can strengthen the team and create a supportive work environment.
- Volunteer as a team to give back to causes larger than ourselves. Participate in group volunteer activities or charitable initiatives. Contributing to the community as a team can be a powerful way to bond and spread kindness.
- Share positive feedback and gratitude regularly to uplift others. Don’t hold back when it comes to expressing your appreciation for your colleagues. A simple “Thank you for your help” or “I appreciate your dedication” can make someone’s day.
- Offer training and workshops that will support a kind culture. Organise workshops or training sessions that focus on supporting yourselves and each other. This could include sessions on Empathy and Conflict Resolution as well as Health and Wellbeing and Mental Health at Work training, These skills can help employees to support each other, communicate and collaborate more effectively with kindness.
Kindness is contagious. The more we demonstrate care, connection and compassion in our daily work, the more it spreads. This World Kindness Day let’s pledge to lead with empathy and uplift each other. Our team will thrive when all of us feel recognised and supported as whole human beings.
If you’re interested in exploring how we can help you promote kindness and empathy within your workplace, get in touch here. We’d love to hear from you.
