The Importance of Kindness in the Workplace

In increasingly perilous times when division and discord abound across the globe, the importance of kindness in the workplace cannot be understated. Nobody wants to go to work when they’re miserable, and an unhappy person is an unproductive person. Every human is fighting a few invisible battles – social media, advertising, and even the news bombard us with a constant stream of negative emotions. But we can make a difference by being the light we want to see in the world. Here are some examples of little things we can all do every day that, when added up together, can make a significant difference in our day-to-day work-life balance.

Being Nice: The Golden Rule

Treat others as you would like others to treat you. This seems self-evident: all the great teachers throughout history have preached this simple, yet effective way of co-existing with our peers. But when the trials of life get us down, we start making little allowances for ourselves. Maybe you’ve had a bad morning, so you cut someone off at traffic during your commute. Maybe you’re annoyed by someone cutting you off in traffic during your commute, so you take someone else’s desk. Maybe someone took your favorite desk, so you… and so on. Why not – if you must suffer, why shouldn’t they? But this is a trap of the ego – more negativity never turns to positivity, and then we can’t turn that positivity into profit.

For each tiny allowance of negativity, hostility snowballs like interest. Every interaction because more negative, and the world becomes a miserable place. Break the cycle of hostility by being the bigger person – react with kindness.

Giving Positive Feedback

There are few things that can lower self-esteem quite like feeling like we’re not seen. A simple complement can be a game changer for how much investment someone puts into their work. This doesn’t mean we need to sugarcoat things but utilizing the “sandwich” method when giving criticism instead of simply talking down to someone can help someone feel appreciated, seen, and therefore part of the team. Simply wrap negative feedback in a pair of pieces of praise and keep communication lines open – your peers will thank you.

Professionalism

Being polite and adhering to proper conduct might seem suffocating at times, but that extra bit of effort during interactions shows the recipient they are respected. Showing up on time shows respect for other peoples’ time – being late tells them they aren’t important. We’ve all had to miss a meeting or a day of work because of circumstances out of our control – but the other parties involved don’t know that unless you tell them. A head’s up in advance is a simple, compassionate gesture that can show coworkers respect. Professionalism is not only dressing for success – it’s using tangible actions to let your coworkers and employees know that they are not numbers, but they are also people.

Sodexo Values Kindness and Respect

At Sodexo Canada, for special occasions like Pink Shirt Day and every other day of the year, we value kindness and respect as a crucial part of our workplace culture. Every employee should come to work feeling valued and appreciated, because a happy employee is an invested employee. By making sure we set the example and stick to our core values, that positivity radiates out towards out customers throughout every aspect of our business – from sustainable dining to facilities management, our customers, guests, and clients will always be left happy, satisfied, and smiling.