| In 2002, there wasn't much interest for | | | | resources to promoting a strong national |
| Kindness in business, and some business | | | | culture and ensuring democratic governance - |
| people would question, "What does kindness | | | | goals that help create a foundation of |
| have to do with business, anyway?" Is this a | | | | happiness for citizens.Bhutan is a very rare |
| for real question or just to prove a point? | | | | example, probably the only example in the |
| Or perhaps they couldn't figure out what | | | | world, a country that has built happiness |
| being kind really had to do with business. Or | | | | into the center of its development strategy |
| perhaps the word was a jargon word, an | | | | "says Ron Coleman, Director of GPI Atlantic, |
| unfamiliar language.If you look at the | | | | a Canadian nonprofit research organization |
| Customer Service or the People Departments of | | | | that studies the quality of life. They are |
| companies, one would think that using kind | | | | sacrificing short-term income for long-term |
| words, sympathetic listening, compassion, | | | | social health."The World Value Survey, a |
| showing regard, being respectful, controlling | | | | group of international social scientists, |
| one's temper, not yelling at the customer or | | | | released a report last year that ranked |
| employee would figure into the equation of | | | | happiness by country. The study, which |
| kindness.Now, if you were to search the | | | | analyzes the impact of values and beliefs on |
| Internet now for Kindness, you would find | | | | political and social life. The African |
| 50+pages on this one word. At the very | | | | country of Nigeria is the happiest in the |
| beginning you would find the people who | | | | world, the U.S. came in at 16. (Where does |
| brought this 'idea' of kindness on to the | | | | that leave the rest of us?)The Master Plan |
| market, and saying that we can actually | | | | was formalized in 1998, the pillars was |
| profit from having or using kindness in our | | | | sustainable economic development, |
| businesses. WOW!Fact one:Olivia McIvor a HR | | | | conservation of the environment, the |
| Professional joined Canada Trust, where she | | | | promotion of national culture and good |
| went to work by putting the 'human' back into | | | | governance, create conditions for happiness |
| human resources. As the bank was dealing with | | | | with reasonable success.Since 1985, life |
| large volumes of robberies and critical | | | | expectancy has improved from 48 years to 66 |
| accidents each year she saw that it was | | | | years. Infant mortality dropped from 142 |
| imperative that the HR team was well trained. | | | | deaths per thousand to 61. The literacy rate |
| A comprehensive anti-violence campaign not | | | | has climbed from 23% to 54% of the |
| only met, but also far exceeded the WCB | | | | population, the countries 1st University was |
| requirements.The Canada Trust Example 1999In | | | | inaugurated in 2003. Health facilities rose |
| October Canada Trust CT celebrated their | | | | from 65 in 1985 to 155 today.GDP rose about |
| first Kindness to Kolleague Week. Her first | | | | 45%, moving from $445 million in 1999 to $645 |
| step was to become very clear about her | | | | million in 2003.Bhutan is no utopia, they |
| values and the outcome and where she wanted | | | | experience traffic jams at rush hours, |
| to see the organization in 2-5 years. Her | | | | strains from rapid growth they have acquired |
| vision was to see an organization where heart | | | | a huge population boom since the 1960's |
| and soul is infused throughout the | | | | because of the increased health care. Bhutan |
| organization. There is a sense that our | | | | is one of the best places to raise a child, |
| corporate soul has been awakened.Her | | | | free medical care and education.Kindness does |
| challenges were to overcome, like using the | | | | create Happiness...Fact SevenSears Roebuck |
| word Kindness in the business environment. | | | | proved that they earned $200 million extra in |
| Kindness takes respect and integrity to the | | | | 1997 as a result of improving employee |
| next level- into action. It is a paradigm | | | | satisfaction by 4%. They paved the way for us |
| shift.Olivia approached her PR Manager, the | | | | to capture the true costs of poor |
| Sr. Regional VP and our Retail Marketing | | | | well-being.Fact EightCompassion seen Creating |
| Manager; they were all responsive and | | | | Loyalty |
| positive. In light with the merger with TD - | | | | |
| Toronto Dominion they needed to pull everyone | | | | Virginia Galt reports - Unkind and heartless |
| together as a team. Kindness is a very | | | | bosses prompt employee departuresProfessors |
| tangible and actionable way to bring people | | | | Frost and Dutton advise managers that actions |
| together. She also wrote to every Branch | | | | speak louder than words, even if the gesture |
| Manager and received a 99% buy-in from them. | | | | is a simple as cooking a pot roast for a |
| We found ways to link kindness with existing | | | | terminally ill employee and his family. |
| initiatives, like the Black Diamond Award, | | | | That's what a Sr. VP of Cisco Systems Inc., |
| Healthy Living Programs and Gallup Opinion | | | | of San Jose, California did.Benjamin Group a |
| Survey and our Community service initiatives. | | | | Silicon Valley based PR firm, demonstrates |
| The support of the senior | | | | its value by taking a stand on how employee |
| | | | are treated not only by their colleagues and |
| managers helped Professionalize the program | | | | mangers by also by their customers, suppliers |
| and the managers helped executed the | | | | and other business partners. The company |
| initiatives.(The Black Diamond Award was just | | | | refuses to do business with clients who are |
| for upper management, this time it was open | | | | abusive to their employees and a few years |
| to all employees.)Olivia commenced | | | | ago dropped a million-dollar account at the |
| immediately to work on rolling it out with 72 | | | | time it was worth 20% of their annual |
| branches and approximately 20,000 employees. | | | | business."Employees were startled that the |
| Her handbook is the result of the successes | | | | firm would go so far as that, however they |
| and learning that resulted over five months | | | | were energized, too. Inspired by the PR |
| that it took to implement the program.The | | | | company care abut their will being, they |
| Kindness to Kolleagues concept was a | | | | worked extra hard to bring in new |
| comprehensive retention tool that effectively | | | | clients."Fact Nine"Business will stay and |
| communicated and was reinforced with | | | | continue to stay where it is appreciated and |
| employees, that CT was a great place to | | | | valued." |
| work.In 2001, TD Trust received the Marketer | | | | |
| of the year award, I just wonder if the | | | | Unknown"One kind act by one kind person is |
| Kindness program helped them to win the | | | | the kind of action that shows kindred spirits |
| award? No, doubt in my mind.Do you think | | | | how kindness can rekindle our oneness."By |
| they profited from Kindness?Fact Two:Are you | | | | Brock Tully"Kindness is the glue that sticks |
| Profiting from Rudeness and Bad | | | | us together...Use it generously."By Mari-lyn |
| Manners?"Rudeness is increasingly common in | | | | Hudson"It's a damn shame that companies don't |
| our workplace and it's taking a toll on | | | | recognize the simplicity of the kindness can |
| employee happiness, customer satisfaction and | | | | do. We would rather have packaged under |
| even the bottom line.. We have come more | | | | another name to be difficult and expensive. |
| competent in dealing with software and we | | | | |
| have lost ground in dealing with human-ware. | | | | By Chris Sheback of ORMED, Edmonton."The |
| It's about treating co-workers, subordinates | | | | vital importance of Kindness that in the |
| and customers with respect and consideration" | | | | midst of global crisis kindness is too easily |
| | | | dismissed as a soft issue or a luxury to be |
| | | | addressed after the urgent problems are |
| Says: Giovinella Gonthier co-author of Rude | | | | solved. Kindness is the greatest need in all |
| Awakenings: overcoming the Civility Crisis in | | | | our global concerns." |
| the Workplace.Fact ThreeCanada ranks 4th out | | | | |
| of 32 countries world-wide for workplace | | | | By Bo Lozoff the Human Kindness |
| violence. Stress is the biggest cause. Says: | | | | FoundationFact TenSites speak for |
| International Labour Organization -A study | | | | themselves: |
| was completed in 1998. The study was done | | | | |
| again in 1990 the same results showed up.Fact | | | | |
| FourDid you know that.."Organizations in | | | | |
| which employees perceive higher levels of | | | | |
| virtuousness have a significantly higher | | | | |
| profit margins? Not only revenue and profits | | | | |
| are up, but employees are more productive, | | | | |
| morale is higher, employee turnover is lower | | | | |
| and customers are more loyal. Companies can | | | | |
| now cash in on Kindness, up to a 15% return. | | | | |
| It's amazing companies that invest in human | | | | |
| capital are creating economic capital."A | | | | |
| Study was done by a UM researcher, estimates | | | | |
| a 15% increased value in companies with | | | | |
| 'virtuousness.' | | | | |
| | | | |
| Written by Richard Morin of the Washington | | | | |
| Post - October 2003Cameron and his research | | | | |
| colleagues, David Bright of Case Western | | | | |
| Reserve University and Arran Caza of the | | | | |
| University of Michigan, first did case | | | | |
| studies of companies with national | | | | of Kindness- It all began in the Egyptian |
| reputations for being kinder and gentler, | | | | times...- In the early 80's by Anne Herbert |
| including Griffin Hospital in Derby, Conn. | | | | who coined the phrase "Practice Random |
| And CH2M Hill a Denver-based engineering and | | | | Kindness and Senseless Acts of Beauty" she |
| construction firm currently rated by Fortune | | | | got tired of hearing about violence in the |
| magazine as one of the top 100 companies to | | | | news.- In 1993, Conair Press published a book |
| work for. They made it tough, as they sought | | | | "Random Acts of Kindness" they asked for |
| out organizations that had experienced | | | | people to join the Kindness Revolution within |
| downsizing in the past 5 years.Read | | | | six months they received 13,000 letters from |
| more....Fact FiveSoul Graffiti Encourages | | | | people that wanted to join.- Since then the |
| Performing Kindness | | | | Kindness movement has grown to over 500 |
| | | | communities in the USA and Canada. In 1997, |
| Laura Lacy a staff writer for The Daily | | | | the World Kindness Movement was formed thus |
| Beacon OnlineIn March 2003, founder and CEO | | | | November 13, was declared as World Kindness |
| Joe Powers turned promoting kindness into a | | | | Day.- In 1996, a Kindness Committee was |
| career. | | | | formed by Debbie Riopel and Colleen Ring (two |
| | | | sisters) because of an act of violence. A |
| "Kindness is something everyone, even the | | | | blotched robbery turned into murder. Mayor |
| meanest people you know, deserve, "Ashley | | | | Bill Smith proclaimed the second week in |
| Overton, a sophomore in cinema studies, | | | | February as RAK week in Edmonton.- North |
| said"Soul Graffiti is "the conscious act of | | | | America celebrates Kindness Week from |
| performing kindness to another soul, | | | | November 9 - 14th, World Kindness Day is |
| resulting in leaving an everlasting imprint | | | | November 13, which is proclaimed by the World |
| on another's life." Their website has | | | | Kindness Foundation, in Singapore.- The movie |
| received as many as 55,000 hits in one day | | | | "Pay it Forward" was made.- In 2001, |
| and has seen visitor from nearly 35 | | | | Edmonton's first Kindness Conference and the |
| countries.Fact SixA Wealth of Happiness | | | | Kindness Awards were formed. Actually, the |
| | | | first for Canada. They received nominations |
| By Karen Mazurkewich a staff reporter of the | | | | from all across Canada for the awards. Ten |
| Wall Street Journal Oct. 8, 2004This story | | | | Awards were given out to nominees.Written and |
| takes place in Thimphu, Bhutan where the | | | | researched by Mari-Lyn Hudson Managing |
| government threw out the usual indicators of | | | | Director of Was reasearched and written by |
| measuring progress, replacing them instead | | | | Mari-Lyn Hudson of Heart@Work We would like |
| with an innovative model call "Gross National | | | | to hear about your stories and facts about |
| Happiness" While GNH isn't something that | | | | Kindness in your life. Please email us at: |
| can be charted or ranked, Bhutan's concept | | | | Or contact us: Toll Free 1-866-667-0166. |
| embraces everything from protecting natural | | | | Thank you. |