No 1 Skill To Have To Succeed in Business

KINDNESS- IT IS!
Like everyone in business, I’ve learned my lessons. It’s easy to become jaded, wary, and callous towards other people. But when I stop to reflect on my career arc, I realize that kindness has propelled me further — and made me a better professional — than dwelling on disappointments.
As a businesswoman, I consider myself to be pretty tough; I’ve achieved my successes through determination and hard work. Along the way, I’ve sometimes trusted the wrong people and ended up betrayed and hurt. I’ve been the subject of personal gossip or office politics. I’ve sacrificed loads of personal time and received neither thanks nor recognition.
But I have also been the recipient of random acts of kindness. People have paid for my coffee, heard me out, invited me into their family and professional circles and provided me with opportunities. These are the people who have made me stronger. These are the moments when doors were opened, or a weight was lifted, or I learned something new.
I know other people also get discouraged. And it’s easy to become judgmental. I have been guilty of that and it’ s still a struggle — when you meet or work with a lot of people, it’s so easy to sort them all out by putting them into little boxes. I constantly check myself so that I can be a better human being and a businessperson with a soul.
One thing that helps me remember not to judge someone harshly right off the bat is to acknowledge that they have their own struggles that I may not know anything about. At the office, everybody is trying to earn a living and along the way we all want to be acknowledged, understood and appreciated. When I look at people with that lens, things start to change.
Here are 3 ways kindness has helped me:
- Being a good mentor
People who are insecure grasp for every ounce of acknowledgment and will kick others out of the way to secure opportunities or praise. Generally, I’ve noticed, people who are secure and confident in their profession love to talk about what they do. They may share fleeting bits of advice, a memory or anecdote, or they may even occasionally take on a protégée.
2. Establishing strong boundaries allows room for kindness
Being kind does not mean I have to be a pushover. The lessons I’ve learned will always be with me. I don’t listen to personal gossip; I don’t assume that everyone wants to be my friend. I make sure upfront that my name will be on a project, as well as what the expected time investment and reward will be. It is, in fact, the act of having defined boundaries for myself that allows me to pin down the details in situations. This reduces anxiety and creates a level of professional comfort that in turn gives me room to act graciously and kindly toward others.
3. Understanding that kindness is a seed — not a transaction
Kindness is not necessarily a reciprocal transaction. It’s not like tennis or racquetball — I know thanks or appreciation will not always bounce directly back to me. It’s more like a garden. I know when I plant the seeds, some will rot, birds will get some, and maybe only a few will survive. But what’s important is not the ability to harvest every seed, but to see some of that effort grow and thrive. I can always plant more seeds.
Just be kind..rest will flow!
