Kindness in the Workplace
In business, Kindness would be considered a “soft skill”, probably one that we think we do not have time for, whether we are a busy corporate executive or an understaffed entrepreneur. We run through our days, multitasking, distracted by technology and busywork, or reeling through the demands and stressors of work-life balance that we can’t seem to get a grip on.
Are we detracting from the necessary component of success? Are we focusing on numbers of productivity and time management in business when the first focus must be the people and what they need to fill their jar with happiness and fulfillment? Our focus should not be built upon the typical business modalities, but instead on accumulating acts of Kindness as illustrated in my book “The Profit of Kindness”, built the bedrock of business that holds us accountable to paying out and receiving kindness currency. IN business, we must always start with kindness, and only after kindness is written into the institution of the business, can it be filled to the brim with all the other good stuff.
Kindness sets businesses a part from their competition, sparks new ideas for goods and services, helps retain staff, and even lands free advertising. Unfortunately many people believe that they must be hard, tough, and unyielding in order to succeed, compete, or belong. They think they have to appear to be strong, decisive, and self-assured; anything but being a softy who shows gentle kindness. Many justify their had-edged behavior on the grounds that business is “dog eat dog” or that “only the strong survive”.
The irony is that playing roles that go against our character usually backfire. When we try to be what we’re not, we rarely do anything very well. By not identifying and capitalizing on our inner strengths (those “soft” characteristics that make us human), and the advantages they provide, we don’t put our best foot forward or use our greatest assets. We hold ourselves back by not using the special qualities that distinguish us from the pack and could help up leverage our ideas and expand our approaches and overall influence.
Unkind business tactics have many drawbacks; they can easily get out of hand, and in today’s social media world, nobody can afford to make a false move. Plus, bad business can become excessive, habitual, and extend beyond the workplace. Harsh practices can spill over into other facets of our lives, including our homes and families, which can only be detrimental to our well-being, our spirits, our physical health, our hearts, and our wallets.
Just as we pay for goods and services using cash, credit, and even barter, kindness currency varies. So let’s explain its definition by offering the many characteristics of kindness, the very characteristics that make up the seven pathways to profit:
- Compassion
- Flexibility
- Patience
- Positivity
- Generosity
- Gratitude
- Connection
These pathways can be used alone or in tandem to increase the big five:
- Profit
- Revenues
- Customers
- Connectivity
- Prospects
These seven steps do not need to be done in any particular order, and what is even greater about them is you can reap the benefits immediately by just implementing one or two; no need to do all of them right out of the gate. As you think about your business model and consider where kindness currency can be spent, you might find that your business is already sufficiently doused in one of two traits while you want to focus on building more equity in other areas. It is a personal plan and is customizable to your business, one that you can hone and reassess quarterly, as you do your financial and incremental goals.
Jill Lublin — The Profit of Kindness Author and International Speaker
Jill Lublin is an international speaker on the topics of Radical Influence, Publicity, Networking, Kindness and Referrals. She is the author of 4 Best Selling books including Get Noticed…Get Referrals (McGraw Hill) and co-author of Guerrilla Publicity and Networking Magic. Her latest book, Profit of Kindness went #1 in four categories. Jill is a master strategist on how to position your business for more profitability and more visibility in the marketplace. She is CEO of a strategic consulting firm and has over 25 years experience working with over 100,000 people plus national and international media. Jill teaches a virtual Publicity Crash Course, and consults and speaks all over the world. She has spoken on many stages with luminaries such as Tony Robbins. She also helps authors to create book deals with major publishers and agents, as well as obtain foreign rights deals.
