Have you ever benefited from someone being kind to you in your career? I have. From being given an opportunity when I had no experience to receiving a thank you card when someone has appreciated my support (even though they did all the hard work) I have been a recipient of kindness in the workplace and I feel very grateful. I believe a random act of kindness can boost your career.
Kindness is addictive
I heard on the radio this morning that being kind is addictive, the more you do it, the more you want to do it again and there is a saying which says you should be kind without expecting anything in return, that’s true kindness. ‘Paying it forward’ through random acts of kindness is a good career strategy too. You participate in creating a kinder and hopefully more gentle world and you improve your chances of getting something back, often in unexpected ways.
Let’s take two scenarios:
Scenario One: You are having a rubbish day, you might be feeling the whole world is against you and nothing is going right. If I were to observe you I would probably see through your body language that you were making yourself smaller, that you were snapping at others or withdrawn. You aren’t yourself.
Imagine out of the blue someone comes up and says something nice to you, perhaps a throwaway comment about how they like the colour of your shirt or a one-line email saying thank you for working so hard on that project. Nothing big, at least not for them but for you it makes all the difference. Suddenly, you feel appreciated and your body language becomes more positive and you smile. Perhaps the world isn’t out to get you after all.
Being a recipient of a random act of kindness can change your day and really put a smile on your face. It might also help you make that all-important decision or change your perspective about something which is on your mind.
Scenario Two: It has just been announced that there will be a new member of your team; you remember that feeling well. With no feeling of getting anything in return, you drop them a note to say congratulations and how much you are looking forward to them joining the team. (You may or may not know this person formally). You don’t think much of it but when they start the new job they come and thank you for that small gesture and you find that you are already off to a good start.
Benefits of being kind in your career
Being kind to others helps build rapport, in turn, building strong relationships which greatly increases your chances of creating a successful career for yourself. By simply asking someone what can I do to help? you demonstrate kindness and make a favourable impression and that can only go well.
Being kind doesn’t need to cost money, take lots of time or be a grand gesture. I encourage you to try to be kind, without expecting anything in return, to just one person today. Notice what it does for them and for you.
Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day, someone might do the same for you – Princess Diana