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kindness at work: it’s not what you think

kindness at work: it’s not what you think

Justin Mecham
November 25, 2024

Hey Full Potential Zoners!

Kindness is free, but its impact on teams is priceless.

Kindness is often seen as a ‘soft skill', but it’s one of the strongest drivers of:

✅ Productivity

✅ Engagement

✅ Team morale

Studies show that workplaces with a culture of kindness see a 35% increase in employee satisfaction and a 20% rise in performance. [Harvard Business Review]

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Kindness is often overlooked in day-to-day interactions.

When kindness is missing, people feel:

❌ Isolated

❌ Unappreciated

❌ Drained by negativity

❌ Dismissed or overlooked

❌ Stressed and unsupported

❌ Less motivated to contribute

Today we are going to help leaders master this by using:

‘A Culture of Kindness'.

Let’s dive in!

Download PDF at Bottom of Email

How to Do Small Acts For Big Wins

Thank Someone

Scenario: A colleague stays late to finish a shared project.
- What to Do: Thank them personally and acknowledge their effort in front of the team.
- What to Say: “I noticed you stayed late last night to make sure the project was completed on time. I really appreciate your dedication—it made a big difference for all of us.”

Offer Help

Scenario: You notice a teammate struggling to meet a tight deadline.
- What to Do: Offer specific help that matches your skills or availability.
- What to Say: “I can see you’re under pressure to get this done. I have some time this afternoon—would it help if I handled [specific task] for you?”

Active Listening

Scenario: A coworker shares a concern during a meeting, but others talk over them.
- What to Do: Pause the discussion and redirect attention to them.
- What to Say: “I think [Name] was raising a good point. Let’s give them the floor to finish their thought.”

Celebrate Wins

Scenario: A team member achieves a milestone, like hitting a sales goal or completing a certification.
- What to Do: Acknowledge it publicly in a team meeting or email.
- What to Say: “Let’s all take a moment to celebrate [Name] for completing [specific milestone]. This is a big achievement, and it shows their commitment to growth and excellence.”

Mentorship

Scenario: A junior employee expresses interest in developing a skill you excel at.
- What to Do: Offer to mentor them through regular check-ins or share resources to help them grow.
- What to Say: “I’d be happy to share what I’ve learned about [specific skill]. Let’s set up a time to chat, and I’ll share some tips or tools that worked for me.”

Lead by Example

Scenario: The team is under pressure, and negativity starts spreading.
- What to Do: Show positivity by focusing on solutions and maintaining a calm demeanor.
- What to Say: “I know things feel tough right now, but let’s focus on the next steps we can control. We’ve handled challenges before, and I’m confident we can handle this too.”

Lead by Example

A team I was consulting for was experiencing rising tension and negativity due to a tight project deadline.

Team members were frequently blaming each other when issues arose, and morale was declining rapidly.

The leader of the team was frustrated but unintentionally contributing to the negativity by expressing their own stress and frustration during meetings.

I worked with the team leader to demonstrate how to Lead by Example and show how their behavior could set the tone for the entire team.

Here’s what we did -

Reset the Leader's Approach:

I coached the leader to shift their focus from venting frustrations to providing encouragement and practical solutions during team interactions.

Example: Instead of saying, “Why are we falling behind again?” they began saying, “What can we adjust today to stay on track?”

Introduce Positive Acknowledgment:

I advised the leader to acknowledge individual and team efforts daily, even for small wins.

Example: “I noticed how quickly you resolved that last-minute issue yesterday. That effort is keeping us moving forward.”

Model Calm Problem-Solving:

I encouraged the leader to remain calm and solutions-focused during heated discussions.

Example: When conflict arose, they said, “Let’s pause and focus on resolving this together. How can we align on a solution right now?”

Consistent Actions to Reinforce Words:

I asked the leader to actively show support by staying accessible for questions and joining the team during challenging moments instead of only overseeing from a distance.

Example: They sat with the team during late hours one evening to brainstorm ideas for overcoming a major obstacle.

Over the next few weeks, the leader’s actions shifted the team’s atmosphere.

Team members began mirroring the leader’s calm, solutions-focused approach and started showing more gratitude and support for each other.

Productivity increased as negativity decreased.

By seeing kindness, encouragement, and calm leadership in action, the team felt more motivated and unified, even under tight deadlines.

Here's how you can make it real over the next 4 days:

Day 1: Observe and Reflect

Choose the lesson you want to work on.
- Pay close attention to your workplace interactions today.
- Identify one situation where you could have applied your chosen kindness lesson (e.g., Active Listening, Offer Help, Lead by Example).
- Write down what happened and how you could have handled it differently using the lesson.
  - Reflection sets the foundation for improvement. Be honest about what could have gone better without being overly critical.
ChatGPT Prompt to Help: "Help me reflect on my workplace interactions today. How can I identify moments where I could have applied [insert chosen lesson, e.g., Active Listening, Offer Help, Lead by Example], and what would have been a better way to handle those moments?”

Day 2: Apply It in a Small Way

Choose one low-stakes interaction today to intentionally apply your chosen kindness lesson.
Stay mindful of your tone, actions, and words as you practice.
- Example: If you chose “Active Listening,” focus on maintaining eye contact, not interrupting, and summarizing what the person said before responding.
Start small—simple acts build confidence and make the practice more natural over time.
ChatGPT Prompt to Help: "How can I apply [insert chosen lesson] in a small, low-pressure situation today? Give me one simple way to practice this without overthinking it."

Day 3: Expand to a Real Challenge

Apply your chosen kindness lesson in a real workplace challenge today.
Be intentional and mindful in how you use the lesson to navigate the situation.
- Example: If you chose “Lead by Example,” stay calm and focused during a tense meeting, offering solutions instead of criticisms.
Stay grounded in the lesson, even if the situation feels difficult or uncomfortable.
ChatGPT Prompt to Help: "I want to use [insert chosen lesson] in a real workplace challenge today. Give me practical tips to stay calm, apply the lesson effectively, and handle the situation with kindness and confidence."

Day 4: Reflect and Plan Ahead

Spend 10 minutes reflecting on how the challenge went over the last three days.
Write down what worked, what didn’t, and how you will continue practicing this lesson in the future.
Ask yourself questions like, “How did this lesson change my interactions?” and “What specific actions can I take to use this lesson daily?
ChatGPT Prompt to Help: "Help me reflect on how I applied [insert chosen lesson] over the last three days. What questions should I ask myself to evaluate what worked, what didn’t, and how I can keep using this lesson in the future?"

Creating a culture of kindness doesn’t begin with policies—it begins with people.

Your choice to act with kindness, even in small ways, inspires others to do the same.

Kindness is contagious when it is consistent, sincere, and visible.

It shifts how we see each other, making room for understanding and collaboration.

When you lead with kindness, you create an environment where everyone can do their best.

How does it start?

It starts with YOU.

Until next week and with lots of love,

Justin

This Week’s Growth Recommendations

Book To Read:

"Deep Kindness” by Houston Kraft (see it here)

TED Talk to Watch

"The Value of Kindness at Work" by James Rhee (see it here)

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