Everybody wants to be happy. But how can we meet that sometimes elusive goal? This was a difficult question even before the global pandemic, but nowadays just thinking about it can seem futile. Parents are trying to balance the demands of remote work and online schooling; people who live alone try to keep their focus in isolation. When life is measured by back-to-back Zoom meetings, even taking a shower can seem like a win.
Don’t Underestimate the Power of Kindness at Work
Three research-backed benefits.
May 07, 2021
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Summary.
Organizations benefit from actively fostering kindness. In workplaces where acts of kindness become the norm, the spillover effects can multiply fast. When people receive an act of kindness, they pay it back, research shows — and not just to the same person, but often to someone entirely new. This leads to a culture of generosity in an organization. The authors outline more of the research-backed benefits of kindness, share their own research on how giving compliments boosts happiness, and offer practical tips for managers who want to promote kindness on their team.
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Feedback Essentials Course
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Give feedback that your employees can hear and use.
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New!
HBR Learning
![](https://hbr.org/resources/css/images/hmm/HBR-learning-icon.png)
Feedback Essentials Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Feedback Essentials. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Give feedback that your employees can hear and use.
![](https://hbr.org/resources/images/hmm/Course_Illustrations/Feedback_Essentials_Course/topic_landing_page_1400.png)