Kindness. For our friends, family, colleagues, and strangers. We all have many opportunities to show kindness. It's often small offers. Other times it's large acts. Small or large, these acts of kindness can be infectious.
Are you kind in leadership? Do you make it a priority to be kind when you can? Encourage special projects? Show compassion for an employee going through personal challenges? Find small amounts of money or time to help someone reach a professional goal? Take time to provide mentorship?
I had the opportunity to experience kindness from my co-workers recently. The night before the three day orientation in August for new graduate students I was out running (not even very fast!), tripped on the sidewalk, and broke my arm. It required an ambulance, emergency surgery, and a plate and 6 screws in my arm. Obviously I was out of commission for awhile and a longer time until I was able to provide clinical care. My fabulous co-workers stepped up without a beat and covered all my clinical responsibilities. To this day I don't know who did what to make it all go ok. But they made sure I knew it didn't matter. They just showed kindness.
Their kindness reminded me that being kind to others pays off. Be kind. Receive kindness.
Share your stories about kindness in leadership.
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Jennifer M. Simpson, AuD CCC-A
Clinical Professor and Associate Head
Director of Clinical Education in Audiology
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN
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