Caring, Kindness, and Resilience in the Workplace
The pandemic has forever changed the way we work. Remote or hybrid work environments do not provide as many opportunities for social interaction as experienced pre-pandemic. It poses a challenge to our well-being to find joy in our work without them.
As a leader, how can we foster human connection and ensure our people feel acknowledged and supported and are more apt to recognize and support their peers?
In the spirit of honouring Random Acts of Kindness Day, we felt it was fitting to talk about the benefits of kindness and compassion in the workplace to bridge the gap of routine social interaction.
Compassion is the first step toward kindness; it is caring for ourselves, others, and the world around us. Put yourself in someone else’s shoes and provide emotional support when they’re struggling.
In a landmark study analyzing more than 3,500 business units with more than 50,000 individuals, researchers found that acts of courtesy, helping, and praise were related to core goals of organizations. Higher rates of these behaviors were predictive of productivity, efficiency, and lower turnover rates. When leaders and employees act kindly towards each other, they facilitate a culture of collaboration and innovation.
Source: Don’t Underestimate the Power Of Kindness At Work. (2021, May 7). Harvard Business Review
Caring for the people you work with is one of the greatest things you can do to build a resilient workplace. It breaks down mental health stigma and delivers on the health and safety promise we all make to each other.
There are tangible benefits to creating a caring culture:
Increased awareness of the importance of mental health in the workplace
Reduced stigma and increased acceptance of those experiencing mental health challenges
Increased engagement of employees in social support
Increased interest in becoming a trained peer supporter
Lower absenteeism and reduced sick leave
Accelerated EAP/EFAP use
Increased access to professional care
Decreased long- and short-term disability claims
The bottom line is that kindness is beneficial to both people and businesses.
What’s your action plan for building a caring culture within your organization?
Not sure where to start?
Book a Shifting the Paradigm Executive Briefing led by influential keynote speaker Stéphane Grenier, MHI Founder to learn new ways of looking at an old problem and how to activate your most precious resource for sustainable success – your people.