Q&A: The importance of kindness in the workplace
CBC London is talking about kindness for our Make the Season Kind campaign
A little kindness can go a long way, especially when it comes to the workplace.
CBC London is talking about kindness as part of the Make the Season Kind campaign, an annual fundraiser for the London Food Bank. London Morning Host Andrew Brown spoke with Katie Shillington, a kindness researcher, about kindness in the workplace.
The following has been edited for length and clarity.
Andrew Brown: So how important would you say kindness at work is?
Katie Shillington: Engaging in acts of kindness has been linked to numerous health benefits, and while it's important in every facet of life, it's especially important in the workplace because, on average, people spend one-third of their lives at work. So this is equivalent to about 90,000 hours, which is a whole lot of time. So, if this much time is spent in the workplace, why not spread a little bit of kindness?
AB: So when we talk about kindness at work, are you talking about politeness or something a little deeper than that? Can we try to define kindness here?
KS: When we think about kindness, it can be defined as benevolent actions intended to help another person, so it is different than politeness. While politeness can be kind, kindness is a little bit bigger than that because it involves those actions toward other people in an effort to make them feel good.
AB: Do you have any examples of some good actions?
KS: Kindness can be seen in small, intimate acts just as it can be seen in large, grand gestures. So, finding that sweet spot or that ideal dosage of kindness is difficult. But it can be as easy as holding the door open for someone or perhaps buying coffee, buying the person behind you in line a coffee, paying a compliment to someone or more large scale like donating blood or stem cells. It can be a whole host of things.
LISTEN | Katie Shillington talks about kindness in the workplace:
AB: Let's talk about some of the benefits. When there is kindness at work, what does it do to people?
KS: So when we consider the physical health benefits, so holding the door open for someone, saying good morning to a neighbour, things like that can have physical health benefits such as a reduction in heart rate and blood pressure, which can lower your risk for heart disease.
Kindness has been linked to mental health benefits, including greater meaning in life, enhanced self-worth and self-esteem, increased happiness and even reductions in stress and anxiety.
AB: How much responsibility falls to bosses and leaders to create an environment where kindness can happen?
KS: I think it's probably on everyone, but oftentimes, it's modelled from the top down. So if you're wanting a kind of collective work environment, work culture, then that comes from the top being modelled so that employees and coworkers can see this and will engage in similar behaviour.
You want it to be natural. Hopefully, folks want to be kind and want to engage in those acts of kindness, as opposed to it being forced.
AB: Do you have any practical advice for people to create a kinder, friendlier workplace?
KS: I would challenge listeners to find opportunities for kindness in their day-to-day, whether that's holding the elevator for a coworker or perhaps it's ending a meeting early to give people back some time. And for those who are wanting to make kindness more of a regular part of their routine, I encourage people to maybe put a reminder in their phone or even to block off five minutes in their calendars.
I know folks' calendars can get really busy, and finding time for kindness might seem like a challenge, but even just five minutes where you're sending a quick note to a friend or to a coworker, those are some easy steps that can get people thinking about kindness more regularly.
Katie Shillington has a PhD in health and rehabilitation sciences from Western University. She's an adjunct professor in the Department of Psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University and post-doctoral scholar in the Department of Neurobiology at the University of California San Diego.
Make the Season Kind with CBC London
CBC London's Make the Season Kind campaign is in support of the London Food Bank. The goal is to raise money, food donations and awareness for those facing food insecurity in London. This year, the need is greater than ever.
London Morning and Afternoon Drive will be broadcasting LIVE on Friday, Dec. 6, from the London Food Bank warehouse at 926 Leathorne Street. Listeners can come meet the team, see a live radio broadcast in action, and get to know the kindness-makers in our community.