If you are not from the Seinfeld generation, then a short reference here before we continue:
So the point, in short is, kindness is becoming way underrated in today's society. It is almost as if everyone in this world read the Steve Jobs biography and said to themselves - "Yes I could be an a*****, no problem!" Jobs just made the whole "being a jerk" thing classy and fashionable. Thanks Steve! Now I pray that belief doesn't spread more after they release the Ashton Kutcher movie.
But let me tell you again, be kind. Not like excessively kind - flashing your eye lashes at everything, clapping your hands in glee and beaming with a smile, all in the name of fake enthusiasm. Good lord, no! I mean like the kind your grandmother probably taught you to be, when she read those bedtime stories to you. A noble king who cares for his kingdom and people, polite and sensitive to people's needs and appreciative of their hard work in general. Remember?
In an earlier blog, I happened to mention a short, witty anecdote from Colin Powell's life that showcases the importance of kindness in leadership. (Just in case, you think I am being funny, I am not. This is of primetime importance.)
Ok, so to really give you the lowdown behind this rant, it is this - I walked into the gym today and found people making a shit of the place. Weights thrown away on the floor like it was a playground, dirty towels and used paper cups in random spots, mats in semi-folded state, sweaty equipment after use and wait for it (and this is when the time bomb in me ticked) - a guy signals and yells to the gym operator - "Volume". He meant he wanted the audio system volume a notch up.
Are you for real dude? I mean, I am ok with the lack of gym etiquette but the yelling and impoliteness fills me with rage. You actually had to instead say - "Can you please turn up the volume?"
Simple, right? But you chose to yell across the gym floor to a far off seated receptionist in an arrogant tone. For once, let me tell you she's an employee and she gets paid to do her job - not to serve your (arrogantly aired) grievances. She might as well have yelled back "Screw you", you know? Just saying.
And then of course there are people who will think to themselves - "The man is arrogant. He needs to learn a bit about manners. But that's probably none of my business."
Confession time - been there, seen that, done that. Not a very happy memory. But now, I don't do that anymore. It is as much my job to care as the day job I am paid to do. Actually it all circles back to you in the end. It's called karma. And karma is a bitch.
So next time, someone says or does something rude, please stop them and tell them that a little kindness goes a long way. Now since I just heard one of you say "Chill, take it easy", I will leave you with a really nice Harvard Business Review article aptly titled It is important to be kind than clever. No, they are not kidding when they dedicate an article on kindness. And yes, this article should be made mandatory reading at high school and upwards. Not just because it a business opportunity but it is the backbone of the human fabric.
And I mean it when I say a lot of today's problems in society is because people have forgotten to be kind. Atleast, that's how it seems to be in my home country where we are excellent in churning out high skilled graduates but "forget" to teach them the core values. I mean of what use is cleverness if there is no kindness?
That brings me to another inspiring (and unconventional, because who speaks of kindness these days?) commencement speech by Jeff Bezos on the lessons of kindness. Ok now, that was enough reading/viewing material on kindness for the day. But I hopefully got the point across. Cross my heart and hope to die :-)
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