Next week is "Random Act of Kindness Week." When was the last time you performed a random act of kindness? I'm not asking to keep score: I'm asking to make you think about it. We get so caught up on our own lives. Secretly hoping to be at the receiving end of a R.A.K., we squeeze in one more errand, take short cuts when driving or may even feel our mission is of greater importance than our motoring counterparts. This translates into our businesses too.
Have you ever secret wished you didn't have to run to the post office or make copies of something or deliver an item. Maybe you've wished someone would offer to buy you a coffee and let you bounce some ideas around. Think of the basic items each business needs. The first few things that come to mind include postage (stamps), high quality paper and photocopying credits from a local business supply store. These are all little things I like to give as thank yous but I know that if these things would land on a desk without a note, they will be used and appreciated by the receiver. Chocolates would work too; especially if the delivery happens mid-afternoon! The minute you wish someone would do something nice to you, you should know this is a cue for you to do something nice for someone else.
You can give in different ways. I was thinking today, as I participated in a job search networking group that one day, these individuals may be employed in companies I may want to do business with. Each individual has unique skills and personalities that many employers are looking for. I found it rewarding to talk with these people and facilitate discussion about recent events in their job search. The coaching is left up to my friend Barb Smith, Job Search Coach extraordinaire. How does this tie into R.A.K. you may wonder? We can all benefit from attending these sessions and offer support and encouragement to people experiencing huge change. This may not be so "random" but it definitely is an act of kindness. Will they remember me? I hope so, I'll certainly remember them!
I challenge you to participate in Random Acts of Kindness week. Don't tell anyone though; that takes away from the high of anonymity. Givers gain and I guarantee you'll feel so good, you may even giggle.
May your kindness spilleth over!
JCM
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3 comments:
I love the idea of a R.A.K. However, I am finding in practice that when you take this extra step, it's well appreciated, but sometimes not understood.
For example, I work with technology. Nothing too bleeding-edge but far enough down that path that most of my clients don't get what I do for them.
I often like to do something extra on most of my jobs to help please my clients. However, these little extras are often not recognized as useful or 'beyond the call of duty' by the client.
It's not my way to point out what's been done for them beyond a simple mention. Do you have any ideas on how these extra steps can be communicated to my clients so that they see the value in them?
Hi Jayme,
Thank you for commenting! As for your question about the RAK, I would tell them you added X while doing Y so that down the road when you'd like to do V it won't be extra work. The trick is knowing that V will be of value to them later on. You're a smart guy, so I'm sure the "V" will come easy to you! Does that help?
JCM
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