Kindness Counts

07/22/2009

If we miss the moment, we miss the clues. In the present, when we allow ourselves to fully live there, we are restored, made wiser, made deeper and happier.
Marianne Williamson

"The milk of human kindness is pretty much curdled at the office when it stirs images of weakness or naivete."

This observation comes from clinical psychologist Judith Sills in her article, "Kindness and Corporation" in Psychology Today (April 2009). Sills argues that contrary to conventional wisdom, corporate kindness positively impacts profits. Sills identifies these qualities of kind managers: compassion, integrity, gratitude, authenticity, humility, and humor.

To illustrate, with real life examples, Sills shares the experience of an employee serving under two leaders in a top financial firm. The first leader was a hardnosed, take-no-prisoners type of boss. The signals he sent were clear: "Do whatever it takes. Losers will be bounced out. Winners will be rewarded. Kindness was just something that got in the way."

Later, when "a decent guy ran the ship," the employee pointed out, "it filtered through, made us more willing to collaborate with each other. It was better for business, not to mention morale."

Sills concludes: "For better or worse, the CEO sets the emotional tone."

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