The Power of Kindness in the Workplace
I’m sure we all remember the Golden Rule: treat others how you want to be treated. While it may be easy to remember to be kind and compassionate towards good friends and loved ones, what does kindness look like in the workplace? When we’re focused on growth, performance, and efficiency, embracing kindness often becomes an afterthought.
It turns out that exercising kindness and compassion in the workplace has many benefits. A kind and welcoming atmosphere increases productivity, promotes a sense of stability, heightens engagement, and decreases stress levels. Modeling kindness in the office contributes to improved morale and gives employees a positive emotional boost.
Think about how it makes you feel when you are the recipient of praise or a kind act. Maybe you notice a warmth in your chest, appreciating that a colleague recognized your hard work. Maybe it inspires you to extend a compliment to someone else. Maybe you were feeling down and a simple act of kindness changed the trajectory of your whole day, fueling resilience and progress on a project. As author Leo Buscaglia commented “[never] underestimate the power of… a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."
To dive deeper into the impact of kindness in the workplace, we interviewed our founder, Ashley Nelson, who has over 25 years of experience working in corporate America. Here’s what she had to say:
What are some simple acts of kindness that you wish were more present in the workplace?
I wish there were more of an appreciation and acceptance of simply being rather than doing. Giving people permission to slow down, connect with one another, and fully unplug when not “on the job” creates the space to access mental clarity, expand perspective, and embrace insight. This is kindness. In some places this is the culture. In many organizations, it is not and, unfortunately, a badge of honor exists for those that are always accessible and “on” 24/7.
The speed with which we move today creates challenges—pressures are high, the pace is fast, and change is certain. Incomplete communication dominates because it takes time to be thoughtful, constructive, and empathic. At its root, kindness dials up human connection. And connection is critical for building effective teams, delivering positive results, and for each of us to thrive as individuals.
What acts of kindness have you found to be most meaningful in the workplace?
Simple gestures like using someone’s name, making eye contact, smiling and saying “hello” as you pass by, saying thank you regularly—these daily, small ways of being mean a lot. I appreciate when someone inquires about how I am and they genuinely want to know the answer and create the space to listen. Or when someone checks in about my family or something they know I’m passionate about. It means a lot when someone asks: “What do you need right now?” or “How can I best support you?” It also really means a lot when someone shares honest, constructive feedback with me because they genuinely want to see me be a better version of myself. Creating the space to be present and connect—that’s kindness.
How have you extended kindness and compassion to others in the workplace?
Being present. Listening fully. Giving my full attention. Being curious. Suspending judgment. Asking people what they need at a particular moment, and following up to give them what they need. Checking in on a human level. Expanding perspective by stepping into the shoes of someone else to better understand what they’re feeling. Laughing. Lightening up. Recognizing someone’s efforts or results. Saying thank you. Being honest and giving constructive feedback. These are all acts of kindness.
Why are simple acts of kindness so important in the workplace?
Because it’s the human thing to do. What we practice grows stronger and becomes more automatic and authentic. As humans, we are ultimately here to connect—and kindness, as the engine of empathy, fuels connection. When we heighten connection, we inspire a culture of trust which leads to positive outcomes for all.
Will being kind to others make us feel good? How so?
In my opinion, kindness softens us. And in that softening, we are often able to expand our perspective and be more accepting. Acts of compassion feel good and they can create a domino effect that is critical for not only our world at large, but also our individual well-being.
Are there any situations where acts of kindness in the workplace are not appropriate or accepted?
There is no situation where kindness is not appropriate. There may be situations where it’s not always appreciated or well received, but it is always appropriate.
What do you do if someone does not reciprocate your kindness?
Keep being kind. Being noticed feels good, but I think that is more about our ego wanting to receive something back. True, embodied kindness is a way of being that doesn’t need to be seen or recognized. It is a way of life.
When we have moments where we feel like being unkind, what can we do to channel or temper those feelings?
Having unkind thoughts, reactions, and behaviors is human. What can we do when we unleash unkindness? We can notice it and extend kindness to ourselves. We can recognize that we are human. Being unkind often gives us information that we need something. So we can ask ourselves what we need in this particular moment. Perhaps we need space, more resources, to be acknowledged, or to take better care of ourselves. When I am unkind, it’s usually a sign that I need to pause and ask myself, “What do I need right now?” If we know what we need, we can ask for it.
Can you get burnt out on being kind? What should you do in that situation?
If we are trying too hard to be kind and it’s not authentic, it might feel like work or another item on the “to do list.” It may become less exhausting if we connect with what feels genuine and natural. Making kindness a “should” in your life can create stress. If kindness feels difficult, I recommend starting by noticing pleasant events in your life. Slow life down to notice positive moments, even if they’re fleeting. When we notice a smile on someone else’s face, or the warmth of sunshine, or the fragrant aroma of fresh coffee, it becomes easier to access kindness and appreciation. We have many choices in a given moment and for me, noticing pleasant events makes it more possible to choose kindness. If I forget, usually there’s an incident or another person that reminds me. I often feel a sense of relief to re-embrace kindness.
Research shows that small acts of kindness heighten positive emotions as well as social connection, and when someone receives an act of kindness, they extend it back. The cycle of kindness often continues to have ripple effects in unexpected ways.
If you’re looking for a place to begin, here are a few ways to cultivate a culture of compassion and appreciation in your workplace:
Surprise the office with treats in the morning
Handwrite or email a note of praise to a co-worker about something they did well recently
Leave an uplifting, anonymous sticky note on someone’s desk. Something like, “You rock at your job!”
Introduce yourself to someone you don’t know
Share lunch or coffee with a new employee or someone sitting alone
Give a shout-out to a team member, cross-functional colleague, or your boss
Congratulate your co-worker on an achievement, professional or personal
Express your gratitude for others
Share a book or TV show recommendation
Hold the door or the elevator for someone
Help an overworked colleague with simple tasks around the office
Say thank you in person
Make a fresh pot of coffee
Refrain from negative talk, about yourself or others
Meditation can also be a great way to dial up compassion. Check out our free Inseus guided meditations, which are all compassion-based for the month of February, for options to extend love and kindness to yourself, your loved ones, your community, and our world.
Mindfully yours,
The Inseus Team