By Ashley Brooker, Vice President of Human Resources for Pure Dental Brands

Practice intentional acts of kindness! Seems like an easy phrase to say, but is it easy to execute on? Many dental practices are made up of inherently kind individuals. These are people who likely went into the dental field because they love to help or provide care for others. For some, intentional kindness may come easy. For others, the act of going above and beyond may seem like an insurmountable task. In the professional workplace, a lot is asked of us; to see more patients, work longer hours, pick up the slack for a missing co-worker, and the list goes on. Despite this, practicing kindness in the workplace plays an essential role in our overall success.

“Kindess requires action”

So how does one define kindness? Is it a gift that we give another individual? Is kindness something that can be deployed when we have extra time and energy? Many studies and articles have been written on the topic of kindness, but one, in particular, describes kindness as “requiring action.”1 The act of kindness, therefore, could present like providing a listening ear to someone, being sensitive to another’s needs, or showing a “generous spirit…when caring for a patient.”1

“Kindness significantly affects happiness at work”

Kindness is an important skill to have in the workplace, and research shows that kindness in the workplace “significantly affects…happiness at work.”2 We spend so much of our lives in the work environment, many of us working 40 hours or more each week. So, it would make sense that when we are at work, we want to be in an environment that is not only good for our minds but good for our bodies too. A recent study found that people who receive an act of kindness are more likely to pay that kindness forward.3 It’s like a trickle-down effect because kindness feels good. There are studies that show kinder people live longer and are healthier4 and yet other studies that show those who volunteer experience fewer aches and pains.5

At Pure Dental Brands, we work to create a culture of kindness each day in our offices. These may seem like very simple ways to practice kindness, but sometimes simple is better. We encourage all team members to start small and build these into daily work life. Here are a few simple ways we practice intentional kindness at Pure Dental Brands.

1. Smile – it’s so easy! We work in a dental practice; we are in the business of creating great smiles so be sure to use yours to help create a kind culture in your practice.
2. Use magic words like please and thank you – we all learned these words when we were children, often hearing our parents say, “what is the magic word?!” It’s true! They are magic words, and these words will go a long way in creating an environment ripe with kindness.
3. Use greetings like ‘hello’, ‘hi’, and ‘how are you’ – these little words are all it may take to get started on the right foot. Share this kindness with all you encounter during the day.
4. Treat others with care and compassion – we are all human and sometimes people just need some understanding and empathy.
5. Acknowledge contributions of others – acknowledgment of a good deed done is a way to cultivate a culture of thankfulness which is a gesture of kindness.
6. Forgive – it is a sign of strength, not weakness as some may believe. When you forgive, you are showing the other individual a gesture of kindness.

The Mayo Clinic shares that being kind can “decrease blood pressure and cortisol, a stress hormone, which directly impacts stress levels.”6 The workplace should not be a stressful environment. Now that is not to say that the occasional stressful situation will not pop up. But on average, the workplace should be a place where you enjoy being, where innovation and creativity, and kindness abound.

This week, in honor of Random Acts of Kindness week and Valentine’s Day, we ask that you consider what kind gesture you can offer. Be generous, be considerate, be helpful and do so without an expectation of anything in return.

References

1. Mathers N. (2016). Compassion and the science of kindness: Harvard Davis Lecture 2015. The British journal of general practice: the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners, 66(648), e525–e527. https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp16X686041.
2. Hashim, Gy & Zainuddin, Ahmad Zuhairi & Mohd Aminuddin, Zaidi & Ghazali, Ayu & Wardono, Prabu. (2022). A Scoping Review on Kindness in the Work Environment. Environment-Behaviour Proceedings Journal. 7. 10.21834/ebpj.v7i20.3304.
3. Suttie, J (November 7, 2022). Do You Underestimate the Impact of Being Kind? Greater Good Magazine. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/do_you_underestimate_the_impact_of_being_kind
4. Francis, K (August 25, 2022). The Case For Kindness. Huntsman Mental Health Institute. https://healthcare.utah.edu/hmhi/news/2022/kindness.php#:~:text=Does%20Kindness%20Make%20You%20Live,and%20your%20heart%20is%20protected.
5. Salt, E., Crofford, L. J., & Segerstrom, S. (2017). The Mediating and Moderating Effect of Volunteering on Pain and Depression, Life Purpose, Well-Being, and Physical Activity. Pain management nursing: official journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses, 18(4), 243–249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmn.2017.04.004.
6. Siegle, S. (May 29, 2020). The art of kindness. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/the-art-of-kindness#:~:text=Good%20for%20the%20body,be%20healthier%20and%20live%20longer.