Being Intentional with Kindness

Being Intentional with Kindness

George Mason University Career Services department recently launched the UCS Kindness Challenge, where staff members were tasked with intentionally sharing one act of kindness each day from October 11th to October 25th. Led by Executive Director Saskia Campbell (she/her) , the challenge aimed to spread kindness within the unit to boost morale and combat burnout during a hectic time of the semester. Studies have shown that building a community of belonging increases engagement, productivity, and retention. Staff members were asked to record their acts of kindness each day and then reflect on how they felt at the end of the challenge. The activities ranged from sending E-cards to colleagues, walking together, buying a colleague a cup of coffee, to sending a "Pats for Patriots. "? ?

Kindness helps me feel less stressed and anxious at work, both being kind and experiencing the kindness of others.- Rachel Stockdale

UCS Kindness Ambassadors are members of the large campus program under the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being Kindness Ambassador program. To learn more about the overall university Mason Chooses Kindness Ambassador program, follow the link below: ?

https://wellbeing.gmu.edu/kindness/kindness-ambassadors-program/ ?

Below are a few additional acts of kindness that are applicable here at GMU or within your workplace:

  • Send an e-card to express appreciation to a colleague: https://hr.gmu.edu/reward-and-recognition/recognition-toolkit/ ?? ?
  • Tell an unsung hero in the office two things you appreciate about them? ?
  • Give a shout-out to someone in a team/staff meeting ?
  • Volunteer to teach someone something to help them do their work better ?
  • Finish a task or project for someone who is struggling ?
  • Eat lunch with/take out to coffee with a colleague you don't speak with regularly to get to know them better ?
  • Tell your supervisor what you appreciate about them ?
  • Give recognition to someone who recently disagreed with you for helping to push your thinking ?
  • Give someone the gift of constructive feedback? ?
  • Forgive a colleague who has annoyed/offended you ?
  • Apologize to a colleague you (may have) offended or negatively impacted ?
  • Decide to give someone grace/believe the best about them instead of assuming something negative ?
  • Clean a shared space (e.g., Resource Room, Break Area) ?
  • Make it a point to listen to others and don't interrupt during a meeting ?
  • Text/Teams a colleague a positive message/word of encouragement if they seem to be having a bad day? ?
  • Start a meeting or 1:1 with a kindness quote or moment of gratitude ?
  • Politely end a negative/unconstructive conversation?? ?

I thoroughly enjoyed this challenge and found it a great exercise, as it allowed me to be intentional and specific with my acts of kindness to others. I realized everyone has different love languages and ways of receiving service, so I aligned my actions with what I believe honored them and not myself. I wanted people to know that my act of kindness was not generic and tailored to their interests. I also acknowledged that some people prefer private appreciation rather than public shout-outs, and I considered this.? ?

It’s important to invest in workplace culture. A positive and kind culture doesn't happen automatically. Offering acts of kindness took a few minutes each day and what the office gets in return is people who feel uplifted and supported by their colleagues. Definitely worth the effort!- Ann M. Garner, ICF-PCC

In conclusion, give this challenge a try with your colleagues, and let me know how you feel in the end. I would like to know if the readers have ever participated in a kindness challenge and how it turned out.? ?

Go out there and spread kindness!? ?

Shannon S.

Holistic, equity-minded career & academic advisor seeking new job opportunities | Workshop Facilitator | Program Coordinator | College Instructor | First Gen Student Advocate | Wellness Supporter | Yogi

7 个月

I absolutely love this article, the message and the challenge for all of us to spread kindness especially being a huge advocate for wellness and psychological safety in the workplace. I subscribed to your newsletter. And, I also attended the Career Counselors' Consortium Northeast Spring Networking Night: Kindness and Belonging at Work tonight with host Sabrina Woods and I very much enjoyed your presentation. Thank you for your amazing work and I appreciate your passion for this topic. ??

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Donna C.

Talent Acquisition Specialist with Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, the largest publicly funded behavioral health, substance use disorders, and developmental disability agency in VA

1 年

You, my friend, continue to inspire! What an awesome initiative - and wonderful way to share such a positive message! Thank you for your continued great work and leading the way, Philip Wilkerson III, M.Ed!

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