Grandma knows best - Be Kind

I learned "The Golden Rule" from my Grandmother, who embodied the principles of this maxim. In simple terms, The Golden Rule is the principle of treating others as one would wish to be treated.

"If you want to be treated with kindness, then be kind to others", my Grandmother would remind me. 

Not bad advise, right?

Of course, my Grandmother is not the originator of this idea. It dates back thousands of years and is found in many religions and cultures. This concept appears prominently in Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, Taoism, and most other major religions. And more recently, 43 leaders encompassing the world's major faiths endorsed the Golden Rule as part of the 1993 "Declaration Toward a Global Ethic". 

But if The Golden Rule is so prevalent, why did my Grandmother have to remind me to be kind?

Well, sometimes we don't get our way, or we suffer a disappointment, and we risk acting out in ways that derail "kind behavior".  We see this "acting out" quite often in children, but sadly, we also see it in business, from grown adults who should know better. 

In business, we don't always get our way. We suffer disappointments. We are under tremendous pressure and stress - all acting as potential derailment factors to The Golden Rule.

I have written about the challenges related to leading a business or team during disruptive times. I have cautioned against the dangers of unkind behavior, and its negative impact on moral and productivity in the work place. [READ MORE]. I also shared, in another article, useful tips on how to combat negativity to improve ones health, better cope with stress, and how to "train" your brain to be happy. The thesis of another one of my articles is that happiness and positivity are the secrets to success.

I know this. I have written about this issue. And yet, in a stressful business environment, nerves become frayed and we are truly tested. I am energized and inspired by creative transformations, but I can't deny, there are days when the burdens of the short term business metrics sap my energy and spirit.

It is because of these stressful situations, and other derailment factors, we all need to be reminded about The Golden Rule. 

We can have a hard-driving, high performance work culture and still be kind to each other. In fact, a sure fire way to impede high performance is to inject meanness and negativity into the workplace. Research has shown that negativity will reduce worker productivity and health. My Grandmother was right; a constant reminder about The Golden Rule is helpful to keep us civil, well behaved, and productive. 

So please, accept these words as your reminder to be kind and respectful.

And join me in the following pledge:

• I will lead by example with a culture of zero tolerance for bad and disrespectful behavior (bullying, harassment and abusive supervision)
• I will create an environment where my team feels comfortable and empowered to raise concerns and report violations
• I will confront issues raised promptly and respectfully
• I will insure that there will be no retaliation for raising a concern or reporting a violation

If we all follow this simple pledge, we will surely create good "karma" in the workplace. Karma is a form of The Golden Rule, as it invokes the principle of cause and effect. If we want a vibrant, positive, and happy workplace, start with kindness and you will receive kindness in return. 

Thanks Grandma for the great advice and encouraging reminders!

Be Happy

Eric

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