#EveryLittleActionCounts Week 14: Be Kind!
This week is a call to be kind. Small acts of kindness play a crucial role in fostering supportive and flourishing cultures leading to a sense of belonging and positive interactions among colleagues and students alike. Ultimately small acts of kindness not only enhance the wellbeing of individuals but also enrich the academic community as a whole.
“Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone else’s life forever.”
– Margaret Cho
There are various ways in which we can individually and collectively enact kindness in academia:
Active listening: When a colleague expresses concerns about an issue, take time to listen attentively without interrupting and offer empathy, compassion and support.
Support without judgement: If somebody approaches you for support do not make them feel judged for their difficulties.
One positive word or sentence: Simply motivating anyone to become better and push through challenges can make a real difference for them and make them feel supported.
Act as a friendly reviewer: Supporting your friends and colleagues by friendly reviewing their work can foster long-term relationships, positive collaborations and a positive academic community.
Offering a helping hand: Take on voluntary roles that support your colleagues and the wider academic community as well as your institution. Doing the invisible can make a visible impact on others.
Share knowledge and resources: Share your knowledge and resources by writing blog posts, newsletters, emails and during interactions in meetings.
We recommend the following three sources that can support you in fostering respectful interaction.
- On Being Kind in Academia
- What is Kindness in Science and why does it matter?
- The unexamined life of academic kindness
We would be very happy to learn about your suggestions on how to foster curiosity in academia.
Anne-Wil Harzing & Christa Sathish.
