5 Benefits of Being Kind to Your Employees
Have you had the experience of how one simple normal little thing completely turned your mood around? Only if Iknew kindness is a MOTIVATOR!
Even the smallest act of kindness can change someone’s entire day. Imagine the deep impact that simple and frequent shows of kindness can have in the workplace. These thoughtful exchanges can help to foster a positive culture, boost office morale and improve employee experiences.
Employee motivation is an ever-present challenge for most companies, and showing kindness could be one of the solutions. Just think about what work would be like if each person in your place was purposeful about finding ways to show kindness each day – and was consequently getting hit with that amazing, refreshing feeling on a regular basis.
It is no longer new or secret – treat people with kindness and it will make both parties feel good. We are more inspired to make good choices when we are shown positive examples; and one act of kindness can set off a chain reaction of good.
In simple language, show some kindness to your employees by showing interest in their lives, Complimenting their resiliency, Respectingtheir expertise, Exhibiting receptiveness, Having meaningful conversations, Creating valuable opportunities, Making everyone feel visible, Enriching them professionally, Forgive them when they make mistakes, Establishing a valuable career connection and so much more
By applying this to the workplace, and by treating your employees with kindness, as an employer, you will also feel a benefit.Let me take you throughthe benefits as I have witnessed from both perspectives.
Amplified Productivity
It is as simple as when an employee knows their company cares about them, they start to care about their company. If you get your employees to a stage where they genuinely care about the company and its successes, they will work harder. They will put in more.That is sheer loyalty in display!
Kindness is motivating.You know how if you see someone in front of you give some money to theneedy, you are way more likely to stop and do the same. And if you watch someone respond positively during a crisis situation, it becomes a lot easier to control your own frustration.
Increase Job Satisfaction
Treat your employees well and you will be helping to reduce workplace stress. The satisfaction experienced with work will add to the employees’ wellbeing and means better health.
Just think about what work would be like if each person in your place was purposeful about finding ways to show kindness each day. This one factor when missing can make employees not want to give any ‘extra’ to their work. Work becomes hectic and they want to claim their sick leave even if they are not sick.
Higher Employee Retention
Treating employees well will reduce the chances of them leaving. Kindness equals comfort for many. When people are comfortable with you as their superior, they are more likely to share thoughtswith you without feeling the fear of ridicule or rebuff.They feel personally invested in the company they work for.
People who trust each other give more. People who feel confident going into something tend to do better at it. If you want confident, trusting people in your company, you must make it to be a place full of kindness. They would not want to leave.
Good Reputation
Show me an employers with a good reputation for looking after their employees and I will show you someone who attracts the best possible potential employees. It also supports the high employee retention rate – no one wants to leave the organization. This is a reason for high productivity.
In one of my past jobs that showed staff so much kindness, I noticed that any employee that had a good reason to leave made sure they pushed for family members to be taken for the roles (or be absorbed in any other available roles). That’s the power of work environment filled with kindness.
Stronger Customer Relationships
Kindness is contagious. Keep me for few minutes in an environment that lacks kindness and I will know. It is important to keep your employees confident and remind them of their value which in turn will increase the level of customer satisfaction.
A friend once said to me that if we start thinking of kindness in business terms, it will stop being such a scarce commodity. This plays out with better customer relationships because the kindness they see around is given back to your customers.
Bottom Line
Kindness makes us better – whether we are giving it, receiving it, or witnessing it.Showing kindness doesn’t have to be time-consuming or complex – it only takes a little time and a lot of heart.
Apart from employers showing kindness, make kindness an official part of your company. Start a program to recognize and reward it whenever possible. Have them pay attention to any simple act of helpfulness, or good deeds (refilling the copy paper, holding the elevator door, inviting a new hire to lunch, helping someone carry a load of files, giving a listening ear on someone’s bad day, etc.)
Routine and thoughtful exchanges of kindness is what every office needs at the moment.Make your company a better place for everyone, and it will make everyone better for you.
Know it today that only good comes from being kind.
