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