I’ve spent a lot of time reading about Kindness and trying to discern what Kindness is, what Kindness isn’t, and interpreting the research behind the benefits of Kindness. As I took the big leap into early-stage startup land and what seems to be an entirely new category of using technology to power Kindness, I still have many questions including (but not limited to):
- How exactly does one define ‘Kindness’?
- What are the benefits of Kindness?
- How do we measure Kindness?
- How can I prioritize Kindness in my long list of ‘to dos’?
- I don’t have all of the answers and, in fact, I believe an important aspect of practicing Kindness is not pretending to have all of the answers.
As I continue to learn and grow and research every day, I wanted to share a few reasons why I believe so strongly in the power of Kindness.
Kindness has the potential to solve some of the biggest challenges in the workplace and the world. Research shows that regular Acts of Kindness increases happiness, increases job and life satisfaction, decreases depression, decreases burnout, and improves overall mental health for both the Giver and the Receiver.
Kindness is a strength, though we often fear it to be a weakness. Being ‘Kind’ and being ‘nice’ are not synonymous. Kindness includes generosity and compassion, but that includes showcasing generosity and compassion to yourself and sometimes that means tough conversations, setting personal boundaries, allowing for vulnerability, and demonstrating respect without judgment. These can be small actions but they are very meaningful and require great strength.
Kindness does not have to be timely or costly. We often think of grand gestures when thinking of Acts of Kindness but it’s the small daily actions that have the biggest ripple effects. These might be as simple as smiling at a new colleague in a meeting, offering an unprompted compliment, taking a walk when you need a break, or leaving a thank you note for someone who offered you help. Research shows that these seemingly small acts have a huge impact on the person doing the act, the person receiving the act, and even the people witnessing the act.
Kindness is like a muscle that can be toned through practice and habits. The more we choose Kindness, the more Kindness becomes our natural choice. Similar to working out, when we practice Kindness on a regular basis, even if those actions are small, Kindness begins to move into the forefront of our everyday decisions and actions.
By harnessing the power of technology for good, Kindness has the ability to grow exponentially. While there are many examples where technology has been used in ways that are arguably not beneficial to our humanity, technology also has the incredible power to connect us and help us grow in ways that weren’t possible before. When someone is Kind to someone else, data shows that the benefits are exponential. By using technology to supercharge that positive impact, the outcomes for Kinder communities and a Kinder world are infinite.
I don’t know where the next months and years will take us, but I’m excited to continue to test the power of Kindness together.
