In a World Where You Can Be Anything - Be Kind

Hello everyone! Can you believe it’s November?! We are sooo close to the end of 2023. And today is my birthday – whoop, cake! But I’m not spending the day chilling (not today, anyway). I’m continuing to cram as much as possible into what we have left of the year.

Last week I was in sunny San Francisco at Blume Envision 2023, an industry-leading conference for shippers, railroads, carriers, and providers. I had the most incredible time hearing from the best and brightest in the industry and talking all about tech innovation, cybersecurity, AI and what the future could bring for supply chain. And I had a great time connecting with so many women in the industry! Watching these powerhouses speak, and getting to chat with them, pick their brains – and share a cocktail or two! – never ceases to amaze and inspire me. ?

?And, speaking of strong successful women, next week I’ll be in Atlanta for the Women in Supply Chain Forum! Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram, @sarahbarneshumphrey, for all the highlights in my stories, because I am SO excited for this one. Let’s Talk Supply Chain and Blended are sponsors of the event, because it really goes without saying how passionate I am about championing women in the industry. Representation is improving, but there’s still a long way to go. And the Women In Supply Chain forum is really helping to move the needle.

As is the Secret Society of Supply Chain! SSSC has been a huge success since its launch earlier this year, and there is a group entirely dedicated to women in supply chain – a resource hub with invaluable monthly meet-ups. So if you’re looking to network with like-minded peers, develop meaningful relationships and build deep connections, all in a safe place, then sign up now. For only USD$100 per month (with a USD$1,000 deposit), you can become a part of the industry’s largest dynamic network and discover everything you need for supply chain success.

It's been an insanely busy year, and I won’t be off the trade show floor for long. I’m also already planning for Manifest 2024. The agenda has just been revealed and with over 250 speakers across 120 sessions – and me! – it promises to be an unmissable event. And you can save $200 on the current registration rate, so book now!

And of course, in between all the traveling and events, I’ve been recording my usual shows for Let’s Talk Supply Chian, Thoughts and Coffee, and Blended.

On this month’s Blended we talked about microaggression – a term I’m sure you’ve all heard and, sadly, many will have experienced. And a quote from one of our amazing guests, David Garofalo, has stuck with me.

“We’ve been so busy doing our jobs, we’ve forgotten that underneath it all, we’re people.”

It sounds so simple, but sometimes the most profound things are!

We’re all so busy (I talked more about this in June’s edition of the Monthly Hustle). And, as we’re coming up to the holidays – the busiest time of the year for many of us, professionally and personally – we’re about to get even busier!

Being busier means less time. And less time often leads to less patience, less empathy, less grace. “Busyness” becomes an excuse for being snappy, or for letting people down. It results in a greater focus on the self and less of a focus on others.

And today, I want to put that focus back.

Because today is World Kindness Day. Launched in 1998, its mission is to “inspire individuals and connect nations to create a kinder world."

And, as we continue to face heartbreaking issues around the world, it feels more important than ever to come together with a shared mission of kindness.

Why should I practice kindness?

You know how people say that when you’re feeling down, the best thing you can do is something nice for someone else? That’s because acts of kindness release endorphins, your body’s natural painkillers, and boost dopamine and serotonin, the neurotransmitters in your brain that deliver feelings of satisfaction and wellbeing. Amazing right? Kindness is actually scientifically proven to make us feel good, as well as the obvious benefits of helping the other person too!

And kindness is just as powerful in the workplace.

Some of the old school might see kindness as a weakness, preferring instead to do their best military-leader impression with a strong, stern style that is supposed to get results.

But let me tell you – with the rise of entrepreneurship, a demand for remote working and a greater work/life balance, as well as a growing Gen Z workforce, you’re going to get much better results with the carrot than the stick.?

Showing kindness to your teams can help you hire and retain top talent, increase employee engagement, establish a thriving culture, and boost productivity. And, most importantly, it leads to a happier, healthier and more fulfilled workforce.

How can I practice kindness at work?

There are so many ways to incorporate kindness into your daily work life that will make a difference at an individual level, but also help to foster a wider culture of kindness within your organization.

Be interested: Our personal and professional lives aren’t entirely separate, and we spend so much time at work, we don’t always want to leave our families, friends and hobbies outside those walls! Asking about your colleague’s kids, weekend or vacation, listening, and then remembering that information for next time is an easy way to make people feel seen.

Collaborate: You all know how much I love collaboration! And bringing different people onto a task or project – even if, for example, they’re more junior or in a slightly different job role – makes others feel included and valued, and can lead to greater innovation and diversity of ideas for you as well.

Recognize achievements: People can be so slow to recognize the achievements of others, for fear that it undermines them personally in some way. That’s not the attitude! Celebrate your team for what they do – and not just the big things, either! Showing you appreciate the little everyday things can be just as powerful.

Be accountable: Show up, work hard, do your best. Protect others from unnecessary stress and anxiety by taking responsibility, and not making others accountable for your mistakes. ??

Volunteer: Whether it’s a soup kitchen or Habitat for Humanity, volunteering is an invaluable way to spread kindness within your local community.

Practice self-care: If you’re stressed and burned out, your performance suffers and you take it out on other people. If you’re rested and well, you’re able to manage yourself and support others. Ultimately, kindness to yourself leads to kindness to others.

Be real: I talked about this in September’s edition of Monthly Hustle. Nobody wants fakery, and kindness to their face whilst being undermined behind their back. Bringing authenticity and honesty to the table is an undeniable kindness.

So to bring it full circle and back to David’s quote – we’re all just people. We’re not robots. We make mistakes, we go through good times and bad. And kindness is a tool we all possess, that has the power to help us through those times. It’s easy and it’s free. But it can make all the difference.

In a world where you can be anything, be kind. ?

Until next time,

Sarah