How to Create a Culture of Kindness in Your Workplace

Introduction

Many people spend a large chunk of their week at their place of work. Whether you are employed at a school, hospital, retail store, or an office setting, workplace culture matters.

How you feel for around one-third of your day can affect how you will behave when you’re around your family or even when resting.

A corporation that prides itself with cut-throat competition may be a red flag. It could mean a better bottom line, but it might be at the expense of employee satisfaction.

Healthy competition can be motivating. Anything more can make employees resort to underhand techniques to get ahead.

In contrast, everyone wins at an organization that encourages kindness. Companies with happy employees often experience lower turnover.

This means less resources spent on hiring and onboarding new staff.

Here are some ways to create such a respectful culture.

In Thick and Thin

Companies can try to be there for their employees in good times and bad. Depending on the size of your organization, you can celebrate birthdays and work anniversaries. If the budget is tight, a grocery store cake in the break room is fine. It doesn’t have to be something super extravagant. You could even consolidate all the month’s birthdays into one party. If an employee is having a baby, coworkers can pool in for a gift card or order a high-ticket item from the baby registry. You could also celebrate weddings and retirements and other milestones in whatever way is possible.

Similarly, it’s important to remember employees when things are not going well. If there is a death in their family, the office can send a nice bouquet of flowers and a card. These gestures can mean a lot to a grieving employee. Some firms also give some paid time off for deaths, major surgeries, and illnesses. If an employee is unable to come to work because they are unwell, sending a get well gift is a great idea. Some baked goods or soup can bring a smile on someone’s face and make them feel their company cares.

Reward Kind Behavior

If you see an employee step up for another, acknowledge and appreciate it. If you see a young barista taking on an extra shift to help her heavily pregnant coworker, tell her you see the kindness. If an employee reminds you to postpone the office luncheon for after Ramadan, as some people will be fasting, make a note. Bring up such acts of kindness in the employee review or let them know in another way.

Some companies have an employee of the month award or prized parking spot as a reward for highest sales. You could hand out such awards based on random acts of kindness instead. Kindness should not be looked upon as a weakness. Being kind does not mean you let others walk all over you. It’s not just managers who should be kind to their subordinates. Everyone can be kind to one another. Just picking up coffee for your coworker in the next cubicle is a small act of kindness. Don’t do it with the intention of it being transactional. Don’t wait for when she will reciprocate your kindness. Just pay it forward and leave it at that.

Be a Good Listener

Gradually try to develop more meaningful relationships with your colleagues. This doesn’t mean you become their unpaid therapist. It should also not cut into your work time so you’re staying late in the office. It just means to be a patient listener. If someone is ranting about a difficult commute, a tricky project, or a sick child, listen without rushing to chime in. Listen and do just that. Not everyone needs solutions. Sometimes they just need to be heard.

Without prying, you can break the ice with new employees and make them feel like part of the team. Just like parents tell children to be friendly with the new kid in class, it works the same way. You might have found your little lunch group that hangs out together discussing the latest episode of The Bachelor. At least extend the new hire an offer to have lunch with you. They may not accept right away, but an invite lets them know they’re welcome.

Nip Toxicity in the Bud

When people with different personalities work closely, differences can arise. Some employees may be high achievers and want to get everything done perfectly before its due. Others may be talented but have a more relaxed disposition. They may not stress about work much, which unfortunately can lead to stress for others. It is OK to have people with different temperaments on a team. However, it is not acceptable for any of them to exhibit toxicity.

If you want to create a culture of kindness then make sure any harassment or bullying is handled promptly. When an employee is let go because of making inappropriate sexual advances, you’re demonstrating that this behavior will not be overlooked. Consult with Human Resources and seek legal counsel when necessary. Let employees know the company has zero tolerance for such behavior and there will be consequences.

If kindness comes naturally to you, see it as a strength. The fact that you remember someone’s birthday or that they were going to have a root canal is a good thing. It shows you care about others. As long as your acts of kindness are not fake or transactional, they can create beautiful ripple effects in the entire organization.