“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” – Aesop
According to Mayo Clinic studies, the benefits of practicing kindness are vast. The practice has been shown to increase self-esteem, empathy, and compassion and improve mood. It decreases blood pressure and cortisol production and increases productivity. Best of all, it is pretty contagious.
A little kindness goes a long way in both life and business. We tolerate and interact with people who practice kindness at a greater level than those who do not. Companies that genuinely care for their customers build sustaining customer bases and raving fans. Showing kindness toward your team, family, peers, and coworkers will build your reputation and create a cooperative environment for your dreams and goals.
Do you actively practice kindness? Do you work to regularly commit small acts of kindness for those with whom you interact? Everyone or just those you enjoy? One of the most effective methods I have ever discovered for turning disagreeable people into pleasant ones is to treat them with kindness.
In life, kindness builds bridges, communities, and relationships. People respond to you differently when you actively do kind things for others. In business, kindness creates lifelong customers. My loyalty to the FedEx guy who brings my paper up from the driveway, American Express for the random gifts they occasionally send, and the medical supply company who accidentally received my business card order and delivered them to me runs deep.
We can focus on three areas to build a practice of kindness.
- Intentional acts. Choose the acts of kindness you regularly do and are part of the person you choose to be. You could send birthday greetings, help people cross the street, open doors for others, offer aid to strangers, send notes and letters, grant favors, give rides, and more. The list is endless. Businesses can greet people warmly, treat their teams occasionally, send birthday greetings to clients, offer referral rewards, share good ideas and information, create helpful content, and a million other ways.
- Unintentional acts. How do you show up for others in the world? We do not always take a moment to consider our unconscious behavior and whether that is kind. Kindness for others involves dressing intentionally and within the etiquette of location, smiling at other humans, acting brightly and shining fully, and putting our best selves on for the benefit of others even when our lesser selves need to come out.
- A great attitude. Attitude is a choice we all make: every day and every moment. A kind attitude is one where the needs of others are essential; small acts occur without thought, and customers feel they are the most vital thing in your business. After all, they are. Show people you care about them by showing up in public as your best self. It takes effort, but the results are worth it.
The people, businesses, and institutions we most remember are those who treat us with both consistent and unexpected kindness. The practice will change your life. It is worth the effort to treat others with heart from a purely selfish view. It positively changes our brains by boosting serotonin and dopamine. These powerful neurotransmitters give us feelings of fulfillment and well-being and activate the pleasure centers in our brains. Endorphins are released, which are our body’s natural painkillers. With so many benefits, get started on your practice of kindness today!
