Why kindness = high performing & happy workplaces

Workplace kindness should not be confused as merely a ‘nice to have’. Kindness is a behaviour that shows goodwill, positivity, collaboration, and care. Kindness benefits individuals, teams, and whole organisations.

Some of the top workplace benefits your organisation may enjoy include:

Better engagement

A workplace that embraces kindness can see a shift in engagement. This is due to employees feeling like they belong and knowing that when challenge strikes, there will be someone there to support them to ride the waves. It can translate to employees feeling more valued when open and respectful relationships are formed and kindness is shown in abundance.

Better long-term loyalty

If you have been a recipient of a kindness culture, chances are you aren’t searching job ads. Kindness at work helps employees to feel that they will be supported in both success and challenges. It helps people to know that they are part of something bigger than themselves, and that when push comes to shove, there will be many team mates willing to jump in and support.

Better results

When employees feel like they are in a respected and valued culture where kindness comes 1st, they tend to have the confidence and passion to meet and exceed their targets. This comes from a willingness to take calculated risks, knowing that everyone in the team has good intent and is there to genuinely cheer them on, whether their great ideas win or fail.

Happier people

When employees are kind and supportive of one another, it is a workplace that few want to exit. Most employees choose to exit when they have experienced a culture that is toxic and unsupportive. Conversely, it is common for great workers to stay on long after they have outgrown the position simply because, they know they will be supported to find the next growth opportunity, and they appreciate the culture as much as their job description.

9 must-haves to bring kindness to work

Our workplaces shape our sense of belonging, productivity, engagement and innovation. When we belong…community, connection and collaboration flow in bucket loads.

The following 9 must-haves are some ideas to bring kindness into your workplace:

1. Make time to share a compliment in meetings
2. Take on work from someone having a tough day
3. Thank people for discretionary effort
4. Build a ‘kindness board’  & leave others a positive affirmation
5. Have policies that allow for people to deal with the unexpected
6. Host community days, give back to something bigger than your workplace
7. Ask your team about personal milestones, celebrate these together
8. Show an act of kindness every week to someone outside your team
9. Have team lunch days,  share food from your culture

Choose kindness #1 for results + happiness

Irrespective if we share office space or are 5,000km apart , we can choose kindness as an essential workplace behaviour that bonds us all in times of success or adversity.

Magic happens when kindness is in abundance, our workdays become filled with purpose, and who knows we might just live longer too! When single acts of kindness are ‘paid forward’ from one person to the next, kindness becomes automatic, and employees seek to make it a regular part of their every day.

The thing about kindness is that it benefits both ‘the giver and the getter’. Kindness generates a greater sense of purpose and community, and it can create an incredible flow on effect driving a more competitive and innovative organisation, and ensuring your people are commitment and happy for the long game.

#Kindness #WorldKindessDay #MentalFitness #HighPerformance #Culture

Poppy Griffiths is a professional coach and Director of UnlimitU a high-performance coaching consultancy, which supports the inclusion of working parents, women in leadership and the mental wellbeing of teams. If you are interested in private or organisational coaching, group coaching workshops, or a high energy keynote, please get in touch. poppy@unlimitu.com.au