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July 8, 2026 5 Small Acts of Kindness in the Workplace

In the workplace, like so many other spaces in our lives, we can choose to be bad-tempered and short with others…or we can choose to be kind. Even if your co-workers or boss can occasionally make you exasperated or annoyed, you can decide to turn things around and respond with kindness and understanding. In fact, this is perhaps the best time to respond this way. Far too often, bad tempers build on each other, which can escalate a situation.

We can also lead with kindness, setting a friendly tone with others right off the bat. Leading by example can be powerful, and if you make an intentional effort to be considerate and understanding, others will hopefully follow suit. 

Acting with kindness does not have to involve grand gestures, and it doesn’t even need to be a high-effort endeavor. Instead, you can incorporate kindness into your everyday actions—the way you respond, talk to, and/or include others. These efforts not only create a more welcoming environment, they also can improve the company’s bottom line by increasing productivity and reducing turnover. On the other hand, according to a study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “Ostracism, incivility, harassment, and bullying have direct negative significant effects on job productivity” and lead to higher job burnout.

To start amplifying kindness in the workplace, I suggest starting with these 5 small acts of kindness.

1. Acknowledge Others

It may seem like a small thing, but the simple act of acknowledging someone you pass in the hallway or giving a sincere greeting to each of your colleagues in a Zoom meeting (provided it’s not a meeting with dozens of people!) can make a significant impact. No one likes to feel invisible. Giving someone a warm greeting and adding a remark like, “It’s nice to see you today” can make that person feel welcomed and valued.

2. Ask Meaningful Questions

How often do you meet with a co-worker and automatically ask that tired, old question, “How are you?” Instead, try asking something a bit more specific—something that indicates you care about the person across from you and you pay attention to them. You might ask something like the following:

“How was your weekend? Were you able to take out your sailboat?”

“How is your house project going? Are you still able to use your kitchen while it’s under construction?

Or, you might ask “How are you?” and follow it up with something like: “I heard you were sick last week; hopefully you’re feeling better?”

3. Welcome all voices

If only one or two people ever speak up during most meetings, that quickly sends the message that the rest of the team is not valued. Make your meetings more welcoming by inviting others to share their thoughts, ideas, and opinions. This might mean intentionally reaching out to certain people and saying something like, “This seems like it would affect your department, Violet. What do you think about implementing this change?” In short, pay attention and make sure everyone’s voice is represented.

4. Cut the gossip

Unless you’re committed to positive gossip (which I discuss in a past post), it’s a good idea to keep office gossip to a minimum. Few things can erode trust and create a toxic environment quicker than talking about others behind their backs. Just don’t do it. And if others attempt to gossip to you, shut it down quickly with a comment such as, “I have no opinion on the matter. Could we get back to talking about X?”

5. Listen

No one likes to feel like they are talking to a brick wall. Convey to others that they are welcomed and worthy by genuinely listening to what they have to say. Absorb what they’re telling you without judgement, ask good questions, and follow up or take action if necessary. Active listening is a sign of respect and it helps foster a more friendly office environment.

Start making kindness a central part of your daily work, and start becoming the change you’d like to see take place. Just a few small actions could make an enormous difference in making others feel more welcomed, amplifying positivity, and facilitating a hospitable work environment.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE.

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June 10, 2026 Lifting Up Others Through Mentoring

Few people “make it” in any profession or position without a little help. We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us and receive support from the people around us–bosses, co-workers, and outside mentors. In my career, I have benefitted from several different “teachers,” who have lifted me up as I aimed to improve myself and my work. I didn’t take that for granted, and I’ve tried to also raise up others through mentoring.

Every job comes with its own set of challenges. If you’re lucky, you’ll start your position with a few contacts and some basic skills, but if can be difficult to distinguish yourself from a large pool of talent. Young professionals, in particular, do not have the benefit of having experienced an industry for a decade or two like their superiors. Mentoring others provides a unique opportunity to fill in the gaps for these workers and offers many rewarding benefits:  

1 . Better Outcomes and Relationships

Mentoring, like tutoring, is an interpersonal skill. When people feel their voice is heard and being encouraged to grow, they are much more likely to remain engaged with their work and voice concerns more confidently. Any time you can foster better feedback from your team, the stronger the team becomes.

2. Reputation

Building a reputation as a mentor in your industry can become a distinguishing part of your career. Often, companies seek to draw upper-talent from pools of candidates that are known in professional circles to be helpful leaders and actively collaborative. Mentoring your employees demonstrates both of these skills easily and clearly, particularly for mentors who’ve done so throughout their career. As the adage goes: “You get back what you put in.”

3. Professional Development

Just because someone can benefit from the guidance of a mentor doesn’t mean they’re without skills to bring to the table. New workers, especially young people, often come with the proficiencies or strategies needed to approach new technology or use new software. You can take advantage of the personal relationship you strike with your mentee to have them teach you how to effectively use these tools. You both walk away more competent.

4. Networking

Life is long and careers often take unexpected twists and turns. The analyst that started at your company five years ago may quickly rise in the ranks of the industry to a sector you’re interested in doing business with or simply learning more about. The more people you can foster a mentoring relationship with, the wider you cast your net across the next generation of leaders. These relationships may end up among the most important in your working life.

5. Personal Fulfillment

Any teacher can attest to this last benefit. Mentoring is an opportunity to open yourself to others whose perspective may be entirely different from your own. Learning from one another about subjects that extend beyond the scope of your job will enrich you personally and professionally.

Mentoring others is essential to bridging the gap between generations of workers. Stepping up to help guide colleagues through this process will not only reward your mentee and yourself, but your industry as a whole. So take a leap and share what you know!

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE.

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December 17, 2025 On Human Connections

As the year draws to a close, and I glide down my “off ramp” toward retirement, I’ve found myself in a reflective and nostalgic mood. One of the things I’ve thought about as I’ve eased into retirement from leading UXL is how much things have changed…and how much they have not. 

Though we live in a world that is now dominated by Zoom meetings and hybrid office hours, many of the same principles I wrote about in my book, The Ten-Minute Leadership Challenge, are still relevant. Courage, for example, is still an attribute that many of us need to amplify. And community is just as important (if not more important) as ever. One thing, in particular, that hasn’t changed during the 16+ years I’ve run UXL is the need and the power of human connection.

With so many of us working remotely, or living an “online life” through social media, entertainment, and/or AI, it sometimes feels like human connection is hard to find. We might react to someone’s post on social media, but is that really a connection? Or, we might attend a one-hour online workshop, but did we really form meaningful connections with the other participants?

I have noticed a distinct difference between the in-person workshops I’ve delivered over the years and the online ones. During the in-person workshops, we mixed and mingled. We talked to each other organically. We laughed and responded to each other’s body language. But during the online workshops, everything felt measured and a little stiff. We couldn’t respond as naturally to each other’s emotions and body language, and some people even had their cameras off. While I respect that choice in certain situations, this does make it difficult for the presenter and participants to react and bounce off each other in a natural way.

Additionally, after these workshops, I noticed that people often followed up and sometimes kept in touch for YEARS after an in-person session. That was never the case for virtual workshops. I have yet to hear from a single participant.

These observations have made me more convinced than ever that in-person, genuine human interactions are incredibly valuable and can be very meaningful. The same level of intimacy and authenticity is difficult to achieve (in my experience) in online settings. 

During the holidays this year, I encourage you to put a little distance between yourself and your screens. Engage with your family and friends, put yourself out in the community, and aim for meaningful interactions. Instead of switching on the TV at night or falling into your phone, strike up a conversation with your significant other or ask if anyone wants to play a board game. Instead of (or in addition to) clicking “donate,” offer your time and your hands by volunteering in the community. These types of very human interactions can make a world of difference to both you and the people you touch.

Though so much has changed in the world since I started my business 16+ years ago, the acute need for authentic human interaction has remained the same. This holiday season, nourish your soul, uplift others, and form meaningful bonds through taking the time to simply be human in an offline world.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE.

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