Meet a Kindness Ambassador who believes kind acts pay off for workplaces

As a Kindness Advocate for Schools and Corporations, I will admit my bias towards those companies who get involved, but I do believe it benefits all employees who take the time to #spreadthekindness during Random Acts of Kindness Week, and at others times during the year too.

#RAKWeek  is an international week encouraging kind acts around the world. And when one act happens, it systematically creates what is called a 'ripple effect' of people wanting to help out others. In my work with #spreadthekindness, I invite corporations as well as schools to jump in on committing to three kind acts for this international week of kindness. 

Why Businesses should get involved in 'Spreading The Kindness' all year long

Though kindness is often emphasized at school, there are reasons why it is important at the workplace too. In the words of +Kari F of Smiling Thoughts, a website to help provide tools for a happier mind, "Even the best job can be stressful at times. Feeling stressed drains our energy and can result in lower productivity and less than desirable results. Having someone be kind to us at work, especially in the midst of a struggle, can alleviate the stress to some extent and give us more energy to be productive and creative."

In creating a tailored plan for each business involved, I ask to work with a Kindness Ambassador who will cheerlead and organize the week with me to make it work well and empower employees involved in the actions.  The law firm’s ambassador I spoke with about this week of compassion and its' outcome is GCY lawyer and Kindness Champion, Carla Manias, who has spearheaded this week with #spreadthekindness for two years as well as encouraging other positive and pro-active activities at the office.

As World Kindness Day is coming up on November 13th, I wanted to check in with +Carla Coatsworth to discuss why +Gasee Cohen & Youngman got involved in emphasizing a week devoted to kindness. Here's our recent interview for Life & Career Corner on Google Plus Hangouts:

For their efforts towards kind acts on this international week, GCY Law was featured on Global TV's segment with Susan Hay: Making A Difference: 

Thanks to Carla and other kindness ambassadors at organizations like +The Executive Roundtable +Authentic Leadership Global, Inc., +Aviva Rabinovici of +AR Communications, +Alex Charlton of DS1 Design, +Julia Rivard of SitebyNorex   +Jonny Belinko  +Judy Romantini of Judy's Group Fitness and many pro-active individuals in Toronto, acts of kindness are becoming more prevalent in the corporate arena. And, why not? It’s a great morale booster in the office and creates a warmer, more productive environment which is a win-win for all workplaces. 

In fact, I now present and create custom-tailored workshops for corporations on Why Kindness Matters in Today's Workplace as more studies have shown that it’s not the flexibility or perks that makes the biggest impact at work, it’s a caring and compassionate environment that is the main predictor of happiness.

Is your business in to create a plan for kind acts that improve morale and boost productivity?  Visit www.steffiblackcoaching.com for reasons why your employees might just benefit with a tailored plan for kindness. 

Share some happiness ...please! Why we need more positive news stories in the media

We know that the media has to share the major events happening in the world but does there need to be such an emphasis on tragedy and what is going wrong in our society:

In the words of Tat Apostolova of Mum in Search and certified ARTabundance coach and practioner: “I stopped watching the news on TV long time ago, because I was having nightmares afterwards. For a while I was getting my news from the internet until I read a horror story that kept me awake for about a week. Now I don't follow the news at all. Yes, I care about what's going on in the world, but I can only take on changing the world if I'm feeling positive and inspired. And after I've had enough sleep.”

WHY POSITIVE NEWS IS NEEDED:

David Leonhardst of THGM Ghostwriter Service asks a provocative question: “Should our media not be a beacon of hope, rather than of despair? The world has been getting better over the centuries. Life has been getting better. We have been getting better. Should the news not report the "news", all that is getting better day after day after day?”

When positive events are shared there is a ripple effect with scientific evidence that supports an increase of positive action by and toward others. When one kind action happens it inspires people to do more.
We know this as we share stories and acts of kindness and we personally witness what happens when we do.

Patricia Weber of ‘inspiring and supporting introverts shared: “The media reports primarily on bad news leading some to think, that's all there is. We know that's just not true. Take the lead from the people in Charleston SC who lead the news with their forgiveness statements instead of focusing their comments on what the big news stations were all to eager to do: focus on the evil and hatred. Tell us positive, inspiring, uplifting stories and we actually might lift you (the media) up.”

And Grace Murdock, creator of Kindness Bracelet, has the last word with a challenge for the news outlets: It is our belief, as part of a larger community of kindness advocates, that an increase of positive reporting will increase your ratings and the news will be what people turn ON each night rather than avoid. She goes on to add, "We urge you to try an experiment and place a positive 7 minutes in, again at 14 min. and at the end of your broadcast. Then check the ratings and see what happens.”

An uplifting challenge and I agree, so let's see more planting of positivity in the media and watching it grow.