Hi Reader,

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Kindfulness is a simple idea. It's the idea that, as well as doing kind things (for others and for ourselves), we also look out for opportunities to make it easy for others to be kind. It's cultural: making kindness easy for others creates a ripple effect that changes the expectations.

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When people feel they have the permission to be kind to others, or indeed when they experience kindness directed towards them, it transmits very useful signals: "speak up if somethings bothering you", "look out for each other", "expect to act in good faith", "we care about people here not just outputs", "this is a place where you matter".

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Kindfulness is a feeling, but the results are tangible: people-driven, kindful businesses are shown to outperform those with less kindful approaches. There's higher levels of innovation and creativity (not a surprise when people feel valued and able to speak up to improve or create things), there are fewer sick days, there's higher levels of measured happiness and wellbeing.

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So my question to you this week is simple:

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What can you do as a leader to be more kindful?

What can you do to help grease the wheels for kindness?

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Here are five simple acts of kindfulness:

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1. Start up a thank you card, or a post on LinkedIn or Teams, celebrating the efforts of a colleague. Watch as people pile in with their words of kindness after you.
2. Model self-care at the Christmas party, making it easy for others to look after themselves too.
3. Start a meeting with a check in ("how are you feeling? what's going well?") and notice how it gives everyone the permission to contribute more fully to the main discussions.
4. Instigate a kindness challenge, where everyone's mission is to do something kind this week and record the results.
5. Ask everyone on your team to share what they need help with this week, and watch the offers come flooding in.

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So this week, as we all summon up the energy for one last push before the Christmas break, I invite you to be the secret agent for kindness in your team. Grease the wheels. Make stuff happen. And watch the quiet power that kindness bring some much needed energy, colour and warmth to these final weeks.

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And if you want to bring more kindfulness to your team, I hope you'll join me for KINDFUL LEADERSHIP in January.

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It's a six week, easy-to-access leadership programme with me and the brilliant Chris Kisley (Atlanta's answer to Brene Brown). We meet for two hours on Zoom each week, we set you challenges and build a community of practice around these ideas.

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Tickets are limited and on sale now - here. So give your 2025-self the best possible gift and start the new year with kindfulness.

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In the meantime, have a great week,

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Graham

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