Last week’s post was about Forgiveness and Sales Success and this week’s is about Kindness.
You might be starting to think I’m going a bit soft.
However, in your personal life, and especially in your sales role, there is a vast range of evidence-based research that shows practicing kindness increases your capacity to earn, build and maintain trust relationships.
And as you’re more than aware, it’s the relationships you earn, build and maintain in sales that lead to your success.
Why Kindness Matters
Put simply, practicing kindness means to constantly strive to find ways to make life better for others.
The importance of being kind to others is something most of us have been taught since an early age.
Kindness is steeped in religion (“clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience”, Colossians 3:12).
Kindness is widely discussed in philosophy (Aristotle defined kindness as “helpfulness towards someone in need, not in return for anything, nor for the advantage of the helper himself, but for that of the person helped”).
More modern day researchers in positive psychology have found kindness to be strongly associated with our well-being.
An Inescapable Truth
It is hard to argue with the fact that when someone shows us kindness, we feel good, and it enhances our view of what is positive in the world.
Each of us can take the personal responsibility to enhance others’ views of what is positive in the world by practicing more acts of kindness.
In sales, your kindness to customers is perhaps not what we typically refer to.
However, in a way, your clients perceive whether you are kind to them or not, through their assessment of your intention, promises and actions toward making their life better.
Activity
Rather than patronize you here by suggesting some random acts of kindness that you could do (whether at work or in your personal life), you already know how to be kind … be kind.
Whatever act of kindness you decide to do, whether planned or random, be intentionally mindful in the moment.
Watch the response of the other person and notice the physical and emotional responses you personally experience.
There’s no denying it – being kind is good for the other person, but undoubtedly good for the person practicing the act of kindness.
25 Contributing Elements to Living a Good Life
This topic of Forgiveness is just one of 25 contributing elements to living a good life that I write about in my book LIVING in the Light of Day.
If you haven’t got your copy yet (in hardcover, paperback, kindle/ebook or audiobook versions), you can Buy It Here.
