Jane Hancock, Acting Chief Executive
There is power in kindness.
This is my last message as Acting Health Service Chief Executive – Jackie will return to work after her break next Thursday 17 August. I would like to acknowledge and thank Tami Photinos for her work in the role of the Chief Operating Officer. Thank you to everyone for the work that you have done getting us through the winter virus season. It’s been a challenge with sick leave and increased patient numbers, but your response has been fantastic and good that we are now in a Tier 1 Acute Respiratory Illness response.
I have been struck this week by comments in staff council meetings, I have also read and heard complaints from staff about other staff and from patients about their experiences. Some of these complaints are characterised by rudeness, bigotry, and unkindness. I have heard and read repeatedly that people want and expect is to be treated with kindness. Well, that’s fair, isn’t it?
Some of you will know of Mother Theresa. Mother Teresa of Calcutta could be called “the Saint of Divine Mercy” – she was known for her compassion and kindness and in this very old photo Mother Theresa is with my Aunty Jean, who had osteogenesis imperfecta. My Aunty Jean told me of other Mother Theresa’s compassion and kindness and how this made Jean feel.
Mother Theresa with Aunty Jean
Now just for a minute stop where you are and think about how YOU felt when you were kind to someone. Are you remembering feelings of connectedness and warmth? Perhaps this memory evokes feelings of satisfaction and happiness? You may have felt comfort or less stress? Did you smile with the memory? How about how you felt when you demonstrated kindness?
As a leader, I have struggled to counter the popular view that showing kindness in leadership is a weakness. I assure you that demonstrating kindness and compassion is critical to leadership and team effectiveness. Being kind does not mean that you are letting anyone off the hook or not being tough. There is power in kindness.
Demonstrating kindness in the workplace can help reduce stress and improve work performance, your productivity, and the productivity of your team. Unsurprisingly, kindness can also have a therapeutic benefit for patients. David Hamilton (author of Why Kindness is Good for You and The Contagious Power of Thinking) explains how kindness can also be good for us. Individually when we do something kind or generous, he writes, the levels of dopamine in the brain are elevated, which makes us feel good.
Irrespective of your role, a leader or a team member, there are things that you can do to demonstrate and practice kindness:
- Help your team and each other – create solutions that will enable your team to meet the expectations and goals that have been set.
- Recognise and celebrate achievements.
- Listen.
- Give honest feedback, kindly.
- Provide help when needed.
- If you have had a difficult conversation with someone then keep it yourself.
- Lastly, try for consistency – it is easy to be kind when everything is going well. It is much more challenging to be kind under pressure. Honestly, I have not mastered this, but every day I strive to be better!
Our Call To Action
Demonstrate an act of kindness a day for a week and help create an even happier and stronger workplace. Make a commitment to yourself to be a kinder leader, team member or colleague.
I have really enjoyed your comments and in fact this message was inspired by some of your feedback. So if you have some feedback, please email me at jane.hancock@health.qld.gov.au
With thanks.
Warm regards,
Jane.