Don’t forget to be kind.

“Don’t forget to be kind”. What exactly do I mean by that? Helping someone  who is struggling on a wheelchair? Donating money to charity? Giving up your seat to a pregnant woman? All these are kind acts 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 sort of 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 calls 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 etc 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 in-front of me was done printing her documents and she was reading it 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 lesser 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 colleagues/staffs efforts

When your colleague or team mate sends you a work they have done or even an e-mail, respond and actually spend some time going through it. That is someone’s effort, time and/or 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 whom 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 8 hours in the office, why not keep it positive?

We’re all not 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.