In some corporate cultures, kindness is not a consideration when thinking about core values. Instead, employees are urged to focus on getting their jobs done, staying disciplined, and perhaps even being aggressive if the situation calls for it. In these kinds of cultures, kindness is perceived as a weakness–and these cultures are toxic.

What these companies might not know is that kindness can significantly boost their bottom line. Companies with kindness infused into their culture are more productive and more profitable. 

Kindness helps spark more creativity. If you want your team to develop innovative solutions, show a genuine interest in them. This small way of being kind establishes trust and the type of work environment that welcomes all forms of thinking. When you show kindness to your team, you help them feel happy and upbeat, leading them to come up with more creative ideas. 

Kindness increases engagement. Most of the global workforce is disengaged at work. You can help your team feel more engaged by being kind. Kind leaders help their people feel valued, supported, respected, and heard–all of which help individuals feel more engaged in their jobs. 

Kindness influences productivity.  Want to increase productivity among your team members? Treat them with kindness and civility. Employees who work in kind environments experience more energy at work, and they are more likely to feel motivated and enthusiastic about acquiring new skills. 

Kindness helps improve your team’s health. Health is top of mind for many companies. If you want to keep your team healthy, try creating a kinder, less stressful work environment. Research shows that high-stress companies spend 50% more on health care. If you constantly push your sales reps and foster a fast-paced, pressure-filled culture, you could be doing more harm than good. 

Kindness will help you develop better leaders. Research shows that the best way to influence and lead is to demonstrate empathy and warmth. Even by showing some small nonverbal signals such as a smile or a nod, you can show people that you are pleased to be in their company and attentive to their concerns. 

It is not hard to be kind, and in today’s environment, a little kindness can make all the difference in someone’s life. By committing to being kind, you will also reap the benefits of a more engaged and productive team. And this will help you thrive.

For more tips on how to create some happiness at work, check out this blog post.