A former boss of mine once said, “Working with Girl Wonder is easy. You just have to be polite.  If you need her help, be kind.  If you are rude or mean, though, you will get nothing accomplished.”
This little insight into how I work has stayed with me for years. It’s something I think about often when I approach others and what works best for them.  Kindness has yet to fail me and I think my coworkers would agree that it serves them well, too.
Currently, I’m in a position of transition as I leave one beloved department behind and join a new one. New challenges are most certainly in front of me and I feel ready to take them on, armed with one of my most effective tools.
Kindness has taught me these 3 lessons especially:

1. When $%*t hits the fan, it doesn’t always have to be so messy. It’s a simple fact of life and work that mistakes are made and things go wrong. When working on a team, finger-pointing and blaming solves as many problems as yelling at someone.  If you address the issue with kindness, chances are that you will uncover some bigger issues and can then work together for a solution.

2. It’s infectious. Have you ever noticed that when you’re happy, others around you are happy?  It’s a conscious decision to be kind to yourself and those around you. The next time a coworker comes to you with negativity, stay positive, lend an ear, and help them change their perspective.

3. It creates loyalty. Need an ally? Be nice.  You’ll find others standing in your corner if you’ve taken the time to be kind.

As I move into the unknown, I’ll be carrying my former boss’s advice along to continue to apply it not just to me, but to my new teammates. Kindness isn’t always an easy choice, but it’s one you aren’t likely to regret.

This week, Girl Wonder shares an important choice, especially for those of us in the business of people.  Like what Angie has to say? Join the conversation below or email her directly.