Career Growth Is A Team Sport

Think about that one coworker who always acknowledges your input in the group chat or the manager who actually asks how your weekend was and waits for the answer. That is the kind of energy that builds empires. In the workplace, kindness is often mistaken for weakness, but let’s be real: it is actually the ultimate strategy for resilience. When you create a culture of dignity and collaboration, the entire team performs better. We are moving away from the era of cutthroat competition and entering an era where your vibe is just as important as your technical skills. Being a team player is the new status symbol.

During National Kindness Week 2026, we are focusing on how simple actions can reduce the massive amounts of stress we all feel. Checking in on a colleague who has been quiet lately or offering to help someone with a heavy workload is not just a nice gesture—it is an investment in your professional community. When you recognize someone’s effort, you are validating their hard work and building a bridge of trust. This creates a space where diverse voices feel safe to speak up, which is where the best ideas actually come from. You cannot have innovation without psychological safety, and you cannot have safety without kindness.

Kindness in the office also means choosing patience when things go wrong. Instead of pointing fingers or spiraling in a Slack thread, try offering a solution with grace. We are all human, and we are all dealing with things outside of our jobs that no one knows about. Choosing to be the person who brings calm to the chaos is how you establish yourself as a leader. It is about having the emotional intelligence to realize that your words have weight. Use them to build people up rather than tearing them down. That is how you build a reputation that actually lasts.

Let’s challenge ourselves to make kindness visible in our professional lives this week. Write an appreciation note to a mentor who helped you get where you are, or give a shout-out to a teammate during a meeting. These small moments of recognition go a long way in improving morale and making the workday feel a little less like a chore. When we show up for each other, we all win. Let’s make National Kindness Week the starting point for a more compassionate workplace culture. You have the power to change the energy of your entire team just by being intentional with your kindness.