Watering the Workspace

Work can so easily become a place of pure transaction. We exchange our time for money, and we often view our coworkers as just roles to be managed or obstacles to be overcome. But we spend the majority of our waking hours at work. If that environment is cold and transactional, it slowly drains our spirit. Kindness is the lubricant that makes the gears of professional life turn without grinding us down.

For National Kindness Week 2026, let's try to humanize the workplace. This does not mean you have to be best friends with everyone. It just means acknowledging the personhood of your colleagues. Say good morning. Ask about their weekend and actually listen to the answer. Give credit where it is due. These are small things, but they create a psychological safety that allows everyone to do better work.

When we are kind at work, we reduce the 'threat response' in our coworkers' brains. People are more creative, more collaborative, and more honest when they do not feel judged or attacked. By being a kind presence, you are actually making the whole team more effective. You are creating a 'high-trust' environment where it is okay to ask for help or admit a mistake.

Try to be the person who notices someone's hard work today, especially if they are in a lower-level position. A simple 'I saw how you handled that difficult client, you did a great job' can keep someone going for a month. We all want to feel like our contribution matters. Being the person who provides that validation is a profound act of professional kindness.