Kindness - and Kind Leadership - is a lot simpler and easier than it can seem. Here are 5 things you need to know to about kindness right now
What is Kindness?
“Kindness is an action (or set of actions) that connects a person’s internal feelings of empathy and compassion to others that is undertaken with the purpose of generating a positive effect and outcome for another.”
First things first!
Kindness is based on the Platinum Rule: Do unto others as they would have done unto them
Don’t “assume” you know what others would like – ask them!
Kindness isn’t based on intention: It’s based on perception and interpretation.
Even if you believe your intention is good, someone might not experience your action as kind.
Second...
Kindness starts with action:
Just ‘thinking’ about making something better for someone isn’t kindness. You have to take action.
Your action could be doing, not doing, or stopping doing something, reacting in a certain way…or not reacting in a certain way...and choosing to use certain words and not to use others.
Just because you can say something, doesn’t mean you need to say it…or should say it!
Third...
Kindness is learned behavior:
People are not born kind or unkind. They learn how to be kind (or unkind) from their leaders. Parents are a child’s first leaders. Then people learn from teachers, coaches, managers at work and people who are leaders in their communities, countries and on the world stage.
The more you practice kindness, the better you will get at it, the easier it will become and the great benefit others and self will receive.
Fourth...
Kindness isn’t just a ‘cure’. It’s a preventative:
Teaching people how to act, react, think, and speak kindly prevents fear and hate and the division brought by them.
Like any other skill, the more you practice kindness, the better you will get at it, and the easier it will get!
Last...and certainly not least!
Kindness creates trust, brings people together, turns neighbors into friends, and neighborhoods (and campuses!) into communities:
Kindness creates trust and when people trust each other they can come together for the betterment and benefit of all.
Here's a pdf of The 5 Things You Need to Know about Kindness to print out, post and share with others!
Thanks for leading with kindness!
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