Many individuals
believe that kindness is a ‘soft and fluffy’ ideal that hasn’t
earned a rightful place in the tough world of hard-core bottom line
business. The truth is, kindness is powerful beyond measure. It is
also the one sustainable element that inspires individuals to
develop connection, compassion and community in the workplace.
A recent survey by Towers Perrin, involving 85,000
employees worldwide, concluded that only 1 out of 7 employees are
engaged in their work and willing to go the extra mile. A startling
statistic, one that reminds us that something is greatly amiss
within our organizations and teams.
During speaking
engagements about the changing landscape of business, I will often
compare the people in our organizations to oranges; it’s a great
visual. Think for a moment about an orange, with its beautiful
gleaming skin, bursting with sweet flavor and juice
inside. What happens when you squeeze it?
The obvious answer is that you get orange juice.
Squeezing brings out the fundamental nature of the orange. In these
times of rapid change, when we are squeezing our organizations
through downsizing, mergers, increased workloads and continuously
shifting directions to remain competitive, it is important to ask
these question in regards people:
-
What
happens when you squeeze your department, your people, your
benefits & recognition programs?
-
What do
you see coming out? What do you want to see coming out?
-
And, most
important, how can we use these challenges as a tool to create
deeper engagement between the organization and the people within
it?
The human spirit,
both in the individual sense and as a collective consciousness, has
proven its ability to rise to the challenge and meet constant
demands. Throughout history there has always been an increased need
for flexibility, creativity and perseverance to deliver performance
and results. To accomplish this under pressure while being squeezed,
one requires a courageous temperament combined with unrivaled
passion and purpose. I don’t believe that anyone gets up in the
morning intending to go to work and do an inadequate job any more
than the so-called organization intends to put employees in harm’s
way. However, perhaps we need to speak more openly and honestly
about courage and inner-strength building when we are being squeezed
by external influences. In my experience, we tend to close our eyes
and not discuss the critical issues facing us that would give people
the skills to survive these times as a team and triumph.
Using kindness
as a core value and driver:
Planting the seeds
of kindness in business is a proactive approach that is aimed at
enhancing the health and sustainability of the people within our
organizations. We need to find unique ways to counteract the
increasing and often subtle forms of stress, disengagement and even
potential violence. As we all know, leads us down a pathway to
poor collegial relationships and eventually the potential of
creating a toxic work environment.
Consider providing
support for a kinder workplace in all or one of these three key
themes:
Kindness to
Oneself:
Nurturing the Human Spirit
This theme includes self-care, resilience and nurturing of one’s
inner spirit. By beginning with self-worth and building a strong
foundation, one is then capable of expressing kindness to others.
The journey begins with self.
Kindness to
Colleagues:
Creating a Circle of Friends
This theme
focuses on treating others with mutual care and respect. It fosters
teamwork and looking out for one another through establishing
friendships in the workplace. We then can invite others into our
circle of positive influence.
Kindness in the
Community:
Sustaining Our
Capacity to Thrive
This theme
looks at making a difference locally and globally through community
service. It encourages people to expand their kindness efforts
beyond their immediate life and work by giving freely of themselves
for others. In giving we receive back.
So here is a starting point…..
When was the last
time you committed a random act of kindness in the workplace? I
warmly challenge you in the 48 hours to commit an act of kindness in
one of the three kindness themes.
In the next
article in this four part series Olivia McIvor will discuss the 12
Character Building Traits needed to create a kinder and more
respectful workplace.
Look for it in
the next edition of ‘the enlightened leader blog”.
