08 Jul Contagious Kindness? It’s a Thing.
Please Share: Kindness at Work
Kindness is contagious. We know that. Studies even prove it. A study published last July in the journal Emotion found that (I hope you’re sitting down) kindness is contagious at work, too, and it’s actually good for business.
The study is called “Everyday Prosociality in the Workplace: The Reinforcing Benefits of Giving, Getting, and Glimpsing.”
The upshot, when translated into common language: When people do nice things for other people at work, they’re happier; and the receivers start doing nice things for other people. “People who were “receivers” in the experiment paid it forward by doling out volumes more acts of kindness compared to the control group – 278% more!”
The work environment is more pleasant, people have a sense of ownership and belonging—and feeling appreciated can help make workers more successful.
While the article doesn’t overtly cover other areas of interaction, like social media, we would like to think that kindness here (instead of the usual, anonymous vitriol) would also apply.
Read the full article by Richard Davidson, Neuroscientist.
*Mural Art by Lettering Designer Gina Lu
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