It’s sometimes really hard to know what to say to a coworker who is obviously upset about something. You want to help that person to feel better, but you might also be afraid of saying the wrong thing. Author Deborah Grayson Riegel recommends that you avoid telling the person how they should be feeling. For(…)
Have you ever had a coworker come to you with an idea that they think is wonderful and amazing – and you absolutely hate it? What should you say to your excited coworker? How can you tell them that their idea is trash without coming across as short-sighted and mean? Well, if you’ve ever been(…)
Please note: I wrote this article before a large portion of our workforce started working from home. So many of these tips on how to be kind to your coworkers might not work in our current situation. Still, I think that being kind to one another is crucially important – now more than ever. So(…)
In many organizations, employees are encouraged to be aggressive and competitive in order to be successful and “get ahead” at work. It’s believed that having a competitive spirit makes employees more productive and engaged. In truth, however, research has indicated that kindness – and not competitiveness – is a much more essential quality. The best(…)
Do you have a coworker you just don’t like? It there something about the coworker’s personality or work style that bugs you? Do you hate it when you have to work on projects with this person? Do you try to avoid this coworker as much as possible? If so, it’s probably making your work(…)
Compassionate organizations tend to be more successful. When employees feel like they have their company’s support when they’re going through a difficult time, they feel safe and secure. They’re more willing to admit to mistakes and work as a team to find a solution. They’re more creative and innovative, because they know they won’t be(…)
I once had a coworker who was always very honest and direct. She spoke her mind and voiced her opinions. And she took a lot of pride in always “telling it like it is.” I thought she was terrifying. I never knew what might come out of her mouth. I guess it was good that(…)
It’s great to have engaged employees. Engaged employees are happy, enthusiastic about their work, and highly productive. But how can you help your employees to feel more engaged at work? Well according to Emma Seppälä, Associate Director of Stanford University’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education, managers need to provide their employees with(…)
An act of kindness a day keeps depression at bay. How are you feeling today? Energized, capable, connected, and peaceful? Or are you bored, sad, lonely, unfocused, or isolated? If it’s the latter, this may be the cure you’ve been looking for: kindness. Why kindness? Mental health authorities around the world say that practicing acts of kindness frequently produces(…)
Civility means showing people consideration, appreciation, generosity, and trust. It involves being aware of the people around you, and acting with courtesy and kindness. Dr. P. M. Forni is a professor at Johns Hopkins University, the director of The Civility Initiative at Johns Hopkins, and the author of two highly acclaimed books on civility. In(…)