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