Q&A: The importance of kindness in the workplace

A little kindness can go a long way, especially when it comes to the workplace.

CBC London is talking about kindness as part of the Make the Season Kind campaign, an annual fundraiser for the London Food Bank. London Morning Host Andrew Brown spoke with Katie Shillington, a kindness researcher, about kindness in the workplace.

The following has been edited for length and clarity.

Andrew Brown: So how important would you say kindness at work is?

Katie Shillington: Engaging in acts of kindness has been linked to numerous health benefits, and while it's important in every facet of life, it's especially important in the workplace because, on average, people spend one-third of their lives at work. So this is equivalent to about 90,000 hours, which is a whole lot of time. So, if this much time is spent in the workplace, why not spread a little bit of kindness?

AB: So when we talk about kindness at work, are you talking about politeness or something a little deeper than that? Can we try to define kindness here?

KS: When we think about kindness, it can be defined as benevolent actions intended to help another person, so it is different than politeness. While politeness can be kind, kindness is a little bit bigger than that because it involves those actions toward other people in an effort to make them feel good.

AB: Do you have any examples of some good actions?

KS: Kindness can be seen in small, intimate acts just as it can be seen in large, grand gestures. So, finding that sweet spot or that ideal dosage of kindness is difficult. But it can be as easy as holding the door open for someone or perhaps buying coffee, buying the person behind you in line a coffee, paying a compliment to someone or more large scale like donating blood or stem cells. It can be a whole host of things.

LISTEN | Katie Shillington talks about kindness in the workplace:

AB: Let's talk about some of the benefits. When there is kindness at work, what does it do to people?

KS: So when we consider the physical health benefits, so holding the door open for someone, saying good morning to a neighbour, things like that can have physical health benefits such as a reduction in heart rate and blood pressure, which can lower your risk for heart disease.

Kindness has been linked to mental health benefits, including greater meaning in life, enhanced self-worth and self-esteem, increased happiness and even reductions in stress and anxiety.

AB: How much responsibility falls to bosses and leaders to create an environment where kindness can happen?