“Don’t forget to be kind”. What exactly do I mean by that? Helping someone who is struggling in a wheelchair? Donating money to charity? Giving up your seat to a pregnant woman? All of these are acts of kindness that we have the moral duty/sense to carry out because they are more explicit situations that call for it.

But what I am referring to are the kind acts that you do in situations that are not as obvious and do not actually prick your conscience if you don’t do it – the sort that actually really call for some effort on your part to go above and beyond (at varying degrees). And believe it or not, the workplace is a good place to start.

1. Offering A Helping Hand

Have you seen a colleague struggle with the printer, computer, carrying heavy things, and so on, but you turned a blind eye not because you are a bad person, but because it just simply wasn’t a thought?

Just the other day, my colleague infront of me was done printing her documents and she was reading them as she walked away from the printer. I struggled at my turn because the paper was jammed. Instead of continuing about her business, she turned around and walked back to me and helped me out, even though I didn’t ask and wasn’t expecting it. I wouldn’t have thought any less of her if she didn’t help me, but she did. She came back for me. I was so pleasantly surprised!

2. Sharing Knowledge

I have come across people who were not willing to share knowledge because they were afraid of being outdone/outshone, so they hoard learnings and knowledge even from their own team mates by keeping mum or feigning ignorance.

What good is knowledge if not shared? Especially amongst team mates. If you have more experience than someone else, acknowledge and embrace that. Be a mentor, be a leader. Be generous and give guidance, because, after all, none of us ever made it to where we are purely based on our own merits and skills.


3. Acknowledging A Colleague’s/Staff’s Efforts

When your colleague or staff member sends you work they have done or even just an email, respond and actually spend some time going through it. That is someone’s effort, time and dedication to something. When you ignore it, you undermine their work and it shows how little you think of it that you do not even think it’s worth your time.

Everyone is busy and everyone has a thousand-and-one things to do. You’re not alone. Give the due acknowledgement and respect for someone’s work as you would want someone to give to yours.

4. Being Inclusive

There are definitely some people in the office who you get along with better than others. But don’t sideline others just because they are quieter, more junior, or just seem more quirky or “awkward”. If you notice that someone has been left out, approach him/her. Talk to them and make them feel like they are part of the company, because they are!

5. Be Kind With Your Words

Yes, not gossiping about a colleague is also an act of kindness. You can comment how that male colleague has funky-looking hair today, or that female colleague is wearing a nice dress today. It’s all harmless chatter. But don’t speculate, exaggerate or falsify information for the sake of a lunch time conversation. Your words could do someone harm or bring him/her disrepute (intentionally or unintentionally). Simply put, it’s just not a nice thing to do and you create a negative vibe amongst colleagues in the office. If you’re going to spend at least eight hours per day in the office, why not keep it positive?

None of us is perfect and it does take some time to remember and live by the above. Even as I write this, I am also reminding myself to be kind - not just at work, but everywhere else and with everyone I meet.

 Visit Cyan Communications to find out more about Cheryl's work.

_{This post was first published on The Confluence Of Life blog and has been reposted on Executive Lifestyle with the permission of the author.
Edited by Nedda Chaplin}

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