Have you ever worked in an environment that was marred by gossip, distrust, and rudeness? If so, you know firsthand how crippling such a toxic work atmosphere can be. People who distrust or dislike those they work with tend to be less productive. They’re also more likely to quit their job to look for something better. Having a high turnover rate can eventually spell complete failure for any company if they don’t get the problem figured out.
As an employer or manager, it’s crucial to ensure your work environment is a positive one. You may be wondering how to do that when you can’t control what your employees choose to say or do. Fortunately, you have more power over the workplace climate than you may realize. To improve morale and team member trust, start by building an atmosphere of kindness. Here are five simple ways you can begin today to promote kindness among employees.
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1. Lead By Example
There’s an old adage that children learn by example. Although you don’t hire or work with children, your employees still look to you and other leaders for guidance. If you want to build a culture of empathy and kindness, you need to show workers what that looks like. Make it your rule of thumb to treat your employees and colleagues with respect and compassion. If a worker gets sick or experiences a tragedy, consider sending them a sympathy care package with a heartfelt note.
When employees see you consistently go out of your way to do good for others, they’ll be more likely to follow your lead. Soon, you may notice them arguing less and cooperating more. You may also see subtle signs that company morale is improving. Team members may have an easier time meeting deadlines when they’re less focused on pointing out the failures of others. You’ll soon discover that leading by example is one of the most powerful ways to promote kindness among your employees.
2. Encourage Volunteering
Volunteering is an exceptional way for workers to experience the satisfaction and joy that comes from giving of themselves without compulsion. Whenever possible, encourage workers to volunteer to improve their communities and make the world at large a better place. Some may choose not to take advantage of opportunities to serve, but others undoubtedly will. Those who live a life of service and kindness outside of work are more likely to bring those qualities with them to the workplace.
To encourage volunteering, consider giving employees designated days off to volunteer for local charitable events or organizations. If you’re intent on making sure they use that time to volunteer rather than play, let them know you expect accountability. You could have them show some sort of proof, such as a signed letter from the organization that hosted the volunteers. You could also work with a local charity to set up a group volunteer opportunity. That way, you and your employees can participate in acts of kindness together.
3. Encourage Open Communication
Have you ever felt close to someone you never talked to or discussed personal interests with? Probably not. Humans rely heavily on communication to create and maintain relationships. According to one study, engaging in just one conversation with another human per day can lower stress and boost happiness. When employees feel closer to each other, they’re more likely to treat one another with kindness.
To encourage open communication at work, consider implementing a central work-wide communication hub. This could be a shared group calendar where employees can schedule and respond to meeting invites in real-time. It might also be a shared project management app where employees can instantly update each other on project progress. Even weekly meetings can become important communication opportunities, especially when you give workers a few minutes to chat about their personal lives.
4. Organize Team Building Activities
Team-building activities might be the brunt of many jokes and comedic movie scenes. But they’re still wildly popular because they serve an important purpose – to help employees build connections with each other. Team-building activities often require workers to cooperate with each other toward a common goal. To reach their objective, they must learn to rely on each other, which helps build trust and rapport.
You could have a team-building event once a year or once every quarter to encourage collaboration between individuals and departments. During this event, you can plan or have an outside company host fun games and collaborative projects. You could also schedule regular team empathy training opportunities where employees learn how to empathize with each other’s perspectives.
5. Incorporate Kindness Into Your Company Policies
If you’re struggling to build and maintain a sense of cohesiveness and care in your company, analyze your company policies. Is there room to integrate kindness directly into those policies? For example, you might consider adopting flexible work arrangements. These types of policies show kindness to employees by valuing their work-life balance and personal commitments.
You could also establish a policy that involves recognizing and celebrating different cultures represented by your workforce. For example, you could make it an official policy to celebrate various cultural holidays and events. This can be a fun way to help workers learn more about each other and embrace each other’s differences.
Encouraging kindness in the workplace can lead to a positive culture that’s conducive to greater productivity. When employees treat each other nicely, job satisfaction increases, collaboration flourishes, and the entire organization becomes stronger. Use these tips to promote kindness among employees and reap the tangible benefits.
