Kindness is a focal point for people around the world this week. Monday is Random Acts of Kindness Day, and it’s good to see more and more people recognising and embracing the spirit of such a symbolic day.
It’s important to remember that kindness is a state of mind, it’s far more than simple actions – opening the door for someone, buying them a coffee, paying them a compliment, etc. Whilst all of those actions contribute to a kinder society, and can certainly make a difference to the individuals in question, kindness is really a mindset. It’s about being cognisant of those around you – if you are aware of yourself and others, you will pay attention to how your actions impact others, and naturally become a kinder person.
Getting back to the day in question however, it got us thinking about how we can be kind in our communications, and those acts of kindness that could make a difference, purely from our communications with others. So, in no particular order, here are our top five:
1. Be polite
Always, always, always be polite – social media etiquette numero uno. When it’s responding to comments on your social media channels, replying to emails, conversing face to face in meetings or brainstorms, or commenting on others content, you need to be polite, respectful and courteous at all times. You never know what other people are going through, so no matter what they say or do, be mindful of your response and be kind.
2. Give credit
Unfortunately human nature dictates that we are quicker to complain than we are to praise. if we have an exception experience we’ll talk about it perhaps, if we have a bad experience we’ll definitely talk about it, if we had a good experience, we probably wont even mention it. Even if we do mention these experiences in person to our immediate circle, how often do you actually go back to the person/entity and thank them for the experience? How often do you share your praise and positivity publicly. Take the time to thank people when they help you (even if it’s a private message or email – but ideally do it publicly). We all have your networks we rely on so recognise your tribe. It’s amazing how much of a difference this public support can make to someone’s business or career.
3. Give constructive feedback
Whilst it’s great to shower people with praise, it’s also a kindness to support their development, so if you have any feedback – positive or negative, take the time to share it – constructively! Giving people pointers, feedback, tips and advice (so long as it’s done in the right way) can help them to review, plan and move forward – personally or professionally. Just because people don’t ask you for your opinion, doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t want to hear it – they just may not have thought to ask.
4. Offer testimonials
As part of the previous two points – have you ever proactively given organisations testimonials or reviews? Take the time to publicly recommend people, before they ask you, whether it’s through a review on Google or social media, or a recommendation on a personal LinkedIn page. It doesn’t take long and it can be so beneficial. Think about all the service providers and products you use on a daily basis – could you spare five minutes today to share your feedback?
5. Answer questions and respond to comments
If you have social media pages, whether personal or professional, make sure you are interacting with those who use their precious time to engage with you. If people comment on your pictures or posts, ask you questions, or share your posts or recommendations, then give them at least thirty seconds of your time to respond and acknowledge them. In the same way, if people send you CV’s or email you for help, make sure you respond to them, even if there’s nothing you can do for them at this stage – it’s just common courtesy.
There you have it then, not rocket science by any means, but maybe just the reminder we all need (myself included) to bring ourselves out of our bubble and become more cognisant of those around us – thus playing our part in contributing to a kinder society at large. Let us know if you have any other suggestions as we’d love to add them to the list!
