We have been having discussion on the importance of #psychologicalsafety in the workplace to engender trust and a culture of innovation and happiness in the workplace. 

I have just read a great blog post from #atlassian about the importance of kindness and being kind. 

Here are some takeouts!

Write those 2 words and put it on the side of your computer screen.

Be kind 

Being kind feels good! Research shows it triggers neurological responses that equip our brains to better cope with the struggles of others and be more resilient in the face of our own. 

Kindness can turn a toxic environment into an area of peace, fun and innovation. (A “safe” place)

Sometimes it’s tough to be kind because the person you are dealing with is seriously challenging ….. there may be valid reasons why that person is “being a dickhead” (see some reasons below) 

When someone’s nasty or attacking – don’t react and defend or create resistance – be kind – (thanks Ari Galper) and (have you filled your bucket today – a kids book about ways to be kind)

Here are some things you can do to be kind – and fill the bucket ….

1. Interact, 
2. Communicate, 
3. Smile, while looking the person in the eye
4. Show that you care 
5. ask them to share their story with you and listen and be present when they share it. 
6. Take your colleague to lunch 
7. If you get a bonus or score a win – take your team for lunch!
8. Surprise a teammate with a yummy treat on their birthday or work-iversary – or just because
9. Hold the elevator for the person who is still 30 feet away, but clearly in a hurry.
10. When you find a confidential-looking document at the printer, discreetly deliver it to its owner’s desk.
11. Bring fancy coffee drinks and a chocolate to the front desk team – they deserve it 
12. Share positive feedback  you heard about someone’s work 
13. Share wins 
14. Offer some positive feedback yourself 
15. Say thanks with a hand-written thank – valuing the person 
16. Leave sticky notes with messages like “You got this” or “You’re the reason someone smiled today” on the bathroom mirror.
17. When you head to the kitchen, offer to grab any dishes from your teammates’ desks and bring them to the sink.
18. Instead of criticizing in a moment of frustration, write it in an email to yourself. Send, wait a moment, then read it. If it still seems important after those few minutes, by then you’ll probably have thought of a kinder, more constructive way to say it.
19. Brew another pot of coffee when you take the last cup.
20. Bring lunch to the person who is “in the zone” (but also needs to eat).
21. Re-share / RT posts referencing a teammate’s work, and add a bit of commentary for a personal touch.
22. Smile.

23. Kindness grows in a virtuous cycle

    As Amelia Earhart once said, “No kind action ever stops with itself. One kind action leads to another.”

    Being kind is the best way to inspire kindness in others.

     In other words, holding the elevator door a few extra seconds isn’t just being kind. It’s leading by example.

Kindness is a muscle – and needs to be worked every day. actively practice “kindness” . Make it your most powerful muscle!

Statistics remind us why kindness matters and why people can be cranky – that often has nothing to do with you or the workplace

Some battles that you might not know about such as chemotherapy – leave visible marks. But most often, the battles our coworkers fight are invisible, a broken leg, a divorce, a sick son , dying parents, an accident and the list goes on

Here Are some scary facts :

• About 38% of people will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. Because cancer is most prevalent in older adults, their working-aged children must cope with the logistics and emotional distress.

• In the developed world, between 10 and 25% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage.

• The divorce rate hovers somewhere around 30-50% (depending on who you ask).

• In Europe, Australia, and the United States, roughly 1 in 4 people will experience mental health issues like depression or anxiety – which affects a whole lot of family members, partners, and friends as well.

• A combined total of 25 million Europeans, Australians, and Americans are unemployed – again, affecting millions more.

• Roughly 1 in 8 adults in the U.S. experience a substance use disorder.

Sobering statistics like these aren’t the only reason kindness matters at work. 

Kindness – especially the random, unnecessary sort – boosts morale and makes work feel a little less like, y’know, work.

#randomactsofkindness