As it is World Kindness Day today, it is a fitting time to reflect on what kindness truly means and how it can shape our interactions, both in our personal lives and at work. Introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement, this day reminds us of all to make kindness and goodwill priorities in our lives. Today, it’s celebrated globally, inviting people to pause, reflect, and engage in acts of compassion and generosity.
At AKA Case Management, we asked our team members and clients to share their thoughts on kindness and what it means to them. Their insights reveal how small actions, and considerate gestures can make a difference to individuals, and how these, in turn, ripple outwards, enriching our communities.
What kindness means to us
For our team, kindness is about those extra steps that ensure clients feel valued, respected, and genuinely cared for. Here are a few perspectives from our case managers:
Catherine Watkins, Case Manager shares ‘To me, in the work environment, kindness is all about caring, understanding and flexibility. For example, checking in that someone is ok, being flexible if they cannot meet a deadline, understanding that sometimes personal need has to be prioritised above work. It is about speaking to each other with respect even when things go wrong and knowing that our own perspectives are not the only perspectives. It is about knowing your colleagues and caring about their whole self, small gestures such as a phone call, message or something to make them feel appreciated.’
Elaine Ricketts, Case Manager view kindness as ‘Taking time, be kind to yourself and others brighten up someone’s day a kind gesture goes a long way!’
Our clients also feel the impact of kindness. Pete, one of our clients, notes, ‘A problem shared is a problem halved. Never be afraid to reach out and talk to someone – and never bottle things up.’
Dominic Hobdell, Operations & Finance Officer adds ‘I look at kindness as doing the little things that can make a big difference to someone’s day. Whether it’s helping them through a tough time, doing something unexpected, or just spending some time with them – I think it’s such an undervalued trait we could all doing with remembering more and putting into practice on a daily basis.’
Our Directors, Andrew Rose and Dawn Abernethy, reflect on the role of kindness in our organisation – ‘Kindness is so important to everything that we do, and it comes from the heart. We don’t always get it right and it will for ever be a journey of improvement that we will be on and reflecting on.
I am sure that many people probably wonder why as they associate kindness with weakness and not the way to succeed in business.
We believe these things couldn’t be further from the truth. Kindness isn’t weakness it is strength and a superpower. Delivering difficult messages with truth and grace is sometimes difficult to do and easy to avoid. But it helps build trust. With kindness, empathy and trust you promote and create the environment to foster creativity, critical thinking, productivity, wellbeing, innovation and many other positive things.’
Why kindness matters in our work
At AKA Case Management, kindness isn’t just a concept; it’s integral to the work we do every day. By fostering an environment built on compassion, we can create positive, supportive experiences that empower our clients and enhance their well-being.
World Kindness Day serves as a reminder that these small, intentional acts of kindness not only uplift those around us but also cultivate a more compassionate world. We aim to be kind all year round and embed this in everything we do.
So, are you still wondering why we think kindness is so important?’