Random acts of kindness have a powerful effect on people. When someone is kind, especially unexpectedly, it makes us feel valued, connected, happy, and motivated to return the gesture by being kind to someone else.
Being kind shouldn't be limited to those we are close to, especially since kindness has a positive effect on both the receiver and the giver. In the workplace, this can create a friendlier atmosphere. But more than that, a study from Discover Psychology shows kindness is a better indicator of happiness than income. This shows that being kind to others at work can have a monumental impact on job satisfaction.
If you're wondering how to get started, you can start planting seeds with these 10 random acts of kindness you can do at work to make a colleague's day.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Why kindness matters in the workplace
If you think about it, we spend most of our waking hours at work, especially on weekdays. If you work on-site, you probably even spend more time with colleagues than family and close friends, so it’s really important that we build good relationships with the people we constantly interact with at work. Being kind allows us to bond with the team we work with, build real connections, and create a culture of kindness, generosity, and collaboration.
When employees enjoy where they work and feel they’re part of the team, companies have higher productivity, higher job satisfaction, and lower staff turnover, because they’re less likely to think about leaving. In contrast, a lack of connection with colleagues and feeling underappreciated can be a compelling reason to leave one's job. Put simply, creating an ethos of kindness in the workplace is one of the keys to happier work-life dynamics.
10 acts of kindness for the workplace
Use these 10 examples to bring some positivity to your workplace or use them as a guide to come up with your own ideas.
1. Say good morning
How you start the morning can set the tone for the entire workday. Give some thought to how you walk into your workspace and the energy you bring. Do you come in, take a seat, and just get on? Or do you engage in some small talk with your co-workers and take time to say “hi” to everyone? Acknowledging your colleagues and making sure you greet them with intention can have a real impact on how the day pans out.
Also, you don’t know what baggage other people could be carrying around, and saying “good morning” to a person who’s feeling low, under-appreciated, or lonely could make a world of difference to their day. This is especially true if you greet someone whom you don’t know well and wouldn’t usually spend much time with. Treat everyone as if they’re a friend.
2. Buy someone a coffee
Who doesn't love surprises? A random act of kindness, like buying someone a coffee if you notice they’re too busy to take a break, is a gesture that opens up connections and can make a person feel seen and appreciated. Perhaps there’s someone in your office who looks down or is particularly stressed on a tough day at work and looks like they could use a pick-me-up. You could even go one step further and pay for a coffee for the person behind you in the canteen queue, so it’s a truly random act of kindness.
3. Invite someone for lunch
Similar to spending a few bucks for a colleague’s coffee, you could invite someone to lunch. New employees might welcome the kindness of someone more experienced when they don’t know anyone. So would someone who’s working too hard, or seems like they could use a friendly person to talk to.
Inviting a colleague to lunch can be a good way to start building team spirit and connection, especially for new team members. Using a lunch break just to chat or catch up will allow you to nurture professional relationships that go further than just the topics of work. This is how you develop friendships in the workplace.
4. Thank someone
Praise and thanks are always great to hear, because people like knowing they’re appreciated. In the workplace, it keeps us motivated and engaged. At times, work can be a thankless task. You go about your daily schedule, doing what you need to do, and others do the same, like clockwork. How would it feel if someone were to say “thank you” for your efforts?
You could thank a colleague who makes a process easier for you with their input, thank someone who makes a change that works well, or thank someone who does a job that maybe goes unnoticed. You might even consider thanking your boss. It usually falls to the senior leadership to thank staff, so if you were to thank someone higher than you in the business hierarchy, it could have a big impact.
5. Pay a colleague a compliment
We spend a lot of time worrying about what other people think of us. After all, we all have insecurities, whether it’s around what we’re wearing, wondering if people like us, or whether we’re doing our job well enough. A compliment can go a long way to take away these fears and make a person feel more confident. When you pay someone a compliment, it makes them feel seen, valued, and appreciated. In a particularly stressful workday, this can help ease pressure and tension, and could even increase confidence and morale.
6. Bring in some treats
Why not show your appreciation for colleagues with a gift that shows you’ve thought of them? You could bake a cake, or pick up a box of donuts or chocolates on your way to work. Bringing in treats shows that you’re thinking of your team, whether it’s for a special occasion that you’ve remembered, like a birthday, or just because.
This isn’t just kind, it encourages sharing, which is a valuable trait in building a strong team. Showing that you consider your colleagues and want to share something with them is a great way of nurturing team relationships and initiating good habits in the office, which others can emulate.
7. Volunteer as a mentor
Starting a new job or learning a new skill can be daunting, especially if you feel like you’re doing it alone. As an act of kindness, you could volunteer to be a mentor to someone new to your team, or someone who’s learning a new workplace skill that you’re experienced in. Being someone’s mentor means that you’re acting as a guide to support them, giving them someone to turn to if they’re struggling, and providing a roadmap that has worked for you. Mentees benefit hugely from the support of a mentor, but mentors also benefit. Being someone’s mentor will give you a sense of purpose and will help create a culture of support.
8. Recommend someone on LinkedIn
Boost someone’s mood and confidence by randomly recommending them on LinkedIn for the good work they’ve done. This is a simple, non-fussy way of acknowledging a colleague and the contribution they’ve made. This will let them know that you appreciate them, and will also help them in their career, as a LinkedIn recommendation is a more public recognition of their skills and expertise.
9. Do something outside of your remit
It’s easy to get caught up in our own job and not notice what others are doing. Take the time to notice what others are working on, what they may not have time to do, or are struggling with, and step in to help without being asked. Maybe there’s an area in the office that’s always a mess that everyone would benefit from once it gets cleared. Perhaps someone has a tight deadline and too much work to get through. Helping someone without being asked shows them that you’ve seen them and that they’re not alone. It always helps to create a sense of being on a team and strengthens relationships.
In the words of Ellen DeGeneres, “Here are the values that I stand for: honesty, equality, kindness, compassion, treating people the way you want to be treated, and helping those in need. To me, those are traditional values.”
10. Be kind to yourself
Receiving kindness feels amazing, and so does giving kindness to others, but it’s often more difficult to be kind to ourselves. Being kind to yourself is the ideal starting point. Ensuring that you give yourself time to do things that you love, acknowledge your vital contribution, and speak to yourself with kind words, fosters positivity and the desire to do the same for others.
Key takeaways
Kindness isn’t just for our loved ones and friends — it impacts everyone in a positive way, no matter the environment. The workplace is a great place to spread kindness to bring teams together, make underappreciated colleagues feel seen, and encourage the type of work culture where everyone feels motivated enough to contribute their best.
So, which random act of kindness do you think you can start today?