As I set off for the inaugural Sussex Centre for Research on Kindness conference yesterday morning, I was excited about the people I would meet and the kindness and business insights I would gain. It’s safe to say that I was not disappointed.
I’ve visited the beautiful green University of Sussex campus twice before. I’ve worked with and in Higher Education institutions for the best part of 20 years. I enjoyed my own time as a student so much that I named my business after the university I went to (I know Browning York sounds like a firm of solicitors, but that’s not where it came from).
So I wasn’t going to pass up the chance to spend the day on a university campus, in conversations about kindness.
People who believe in the power of kindness
From the moment I arrived at the event I met with other people who believe in the power of kindness as much as I do. Attendees ranged from academic researchers to leadership consultants, from small business owners to psychology students. Authors, podcast hosts and artists. And many others too.
Some of these I had already met at other kindness-related events in the past. Some I knew through social media (it’s slightly unnerving, but lovely, when a number of people come up to you and say ‘I know you, I’ve seen you on LinkedIn’). Others I only met for the first time yesterday.
I had interesting, positive and thought-provoking conversations with all of them.
Points to ponder
There was a lot going through my brain as I headed home. Lots to ponder and lots of potential to continue conversations and look for ways to collaborate. While I let this percolate and formulate next steps and future plans, here are 10 things I’m taking away from the day:
- Kindness makes business sense. A business run with kindness built in sees an increase in staff retention and attracts more customers.
- Kind businesses can also be profit-making businesses. Profit has become a dirty word, but it isn’t making a profit itself that’s an issue – greed is the dirty word.
- The popular culture depiction of successful business is always tough, uncompromising, cut-throat, mean (yes, The Apprentice, I am looking at you!). But the reality for a lot of businesses is very different, with success coming directly from kindness, compassion, humanity. This popular depiction needs to change to encourage more business owners to have the courage to act differently.
- If (when?) we give kind businesses more of a platform, society will change.
- Research is one of the tools that can help to tell the story of what kindness really looks like and why it matters.
- We need to think about the relationship between kindness and privilege. Is it easier to be kind from a position of privilege? There was the beginning of an interesting, thought-provoking conversation on this topic, with different views and perspectives.
- While a lot of businesses who currently speak up about kindness are smaller and/or family-owned, it is possible for larger organisations to have a culture built on kindness too. Particularly where the CEO and People Director are role modelling a kind culture.
- Kindness in interactions within companies and organisations feeds into employee wellbeing. With more employers concerned about the wellbeing of their teams, this could be an area for them to explore more.
- When we’re working in collaboration with others, we have a real opportunity to put kindness into the relationship by remembering that we are dealing with humans and showing respect and curiosity. Even in tough times.
- The way that the world is right now means there’s a need to accelerate the work to highlight, value and enact kindness. To change the story and connect with people this way instead of through fear and division.
Join in
To anyone reading this who was at the conference today, thank you for being part of such an inspiring experience. If you weren’t able to join today, we still need you and your voice in the ongoing conversations and actions to build a world where kindness is recognised, valued and celebrated. As a global society we need to grow the sense of who we are as positive and kind, and that takes all of us.
To anyone reading this who was at the conference today, thank you for being part of such an inspiring experience. If you weren’t able to join today, we still need you and your voice in the ongoing conversations and actions to build a world where kindness is recognised, valued and celebrated. As a global society we need to grow the sense of who we are as positive and kind, and that takes all of us.
As co-founder of the Centre, Robin Bannerjee, pointed out in his closing remarks:
This matters.
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Hello Sarah
I too attended the Kindness Conference – and am keen to accelerate and amplify all the kindness all around us. I’m particularly keen to remind people that kindness exists everywhere, and that showing kindness to strangers, to people who we dont know, who are not like us, is a defining feature of our culture. My current idea is to host a one-day ‘kindness festival’ in my community and encourage others to do the same in theirs. I’m planning to create a simple blueprint – but before I get too carried away, I would love to hear what you and others who have been promoting kindness think of the idea.
Hi Radhika! I think that anything which encourages and supports people to recognise and celebrate kindness is a good thing. Like you say, kindness is a defining feature of who we are and it’s important to remind people that many individuals and communities are already showing kindness in multiple ways. Good luck with taking your plans forward!