Be Kind

Ways to be kind (I stole these, but they are worth re-reading every now and then!)

1. Say what you mean and mean what you say. There's no substitute for authentic communication
2. Be less inclined to give advice, and more inclined to seek it.
3. Resist the urge to jump to conclusions about people and their motives.
4. Identify the biggest redeeming quality of the person that is driving you crazy. Keep in in mind the next time they irritate you.
5. Skip the mindless 'howareya doin' and as a question that shows genuine interest.
6. Go out of your way to say thank you - it's feedback, recognition, and respect all wrapped in one.
7. If you are overdue in showing gratitude, make up for lost time.
8. When credit and compliments come your way, spread them around to all who helped. No one is solely responsible for their own achievements!
9. Promise only what you can deliver.
10. When things go wrong, resist the urge to assign blame. It's the system that usually fails, so fix the system, not the people.
11. Widen your social circle and seek out new people.
12. Give a gift for no reason. Leave a note for no reason.
13. When a rumor reaches your ear, let it go out the other.
14. Take a break from your daily monotonous tasks and have an insignificant chat with a colleague.
15. Show interest in someone else's interests. Even if you aren't particularly interested in a subject, make it a point to ask someone about their passion or interest.
16. When you take a stand and later realize it's the wrong stand, be honest enough to say so.
17. Involve more people in weighing options and making decisions. Put to work the incredible brainpower around you.
18. Have some no-tech conversations (without e-mails or phones)
19. Try going a whole day without making judgements about people (this is tough!)
20. Don't wait for kindness to come your way. Gandhi had it right: We must be the change we wish to see in the world.