[Music] a few months ago when I found out I was
a few months ago when I found out I was
a few months ago when I found out I was going to be speaking to you about this
going to be speaking to you about this
going to be speaking to you about this topic I had a nightmare I turned that
topic I had a nightmare I turned that
topic I had a nightmare I turned that someone from the audience came running
someone from the audience came running
someone from the audience came running in and pushed me off the stage you see
in and pushed me off the stage you see
in and pushed me off the stage you see I’m going to be speaking to you about
I’m going to be speaking to you about
I’m going to be speaking to you about kindness and business do you ever hear
kindness and business do you ever hear
kindness and business do you ever hear these two words together there can be a
these two words together there can be a
these two words together there can be a little skepticism with a combination in
little skepticism with a combination in
little skepticism with a combination in my dream I could feel the resistance of
my dream I could feel the resistance of
my dream I could feel the resistance of this person to the idea that kindness
this person to the idea that kindness
this person to the idea that kindness can be a guiding force in business and
can be a guiding force in business and
can be a guiding force in business and of course as it was my dream it was my
of course as it was my dream it was my
of course as it was my dream it was my own resistance why do we resist to this
own resistance why do we resist to this
own resistance why do we resist to this idea that businesses can be kind this
idea that businesses can be kind this
idea that businesses can be kind this encounter of kindness and business well
encounter of kindness and business well
encounter of kindness and business well I think the simplest answer is because
I think the simplest answer is because
I think the simplest answer is because we have all been burnt we have all had a
we have all been burnt we have all had a
we have all been burnt we have all had a bad experience we’ve all had bad
bad experience we’ve all had bad
bad experience we’ve all had bad customer service or a low-quality
customer service or a low-quality
customer service or a low-quality product sold to us via feel-good
product sold to us via feel-good
product sold to us via feel-good marketing and the issue of kindness and
marketing and the issue of kindness and
marketing and the issue of kindness and business is not just of course about
business is not just of course about
business is not just of course about customer service and marketing we think
customer service and marketing we think
customer service and marketing we think of worst things we’re thinking of
of worst things we’re thinking of
of worst things we’re thinking of companies who pollute the earth and the
companies who pollute the earth and the
companies who pollute the earth and the sea we hear of bullying in the workplace
sea we hear of bullying in the workplace
sea we hear of bullying in the workplace or we read of lack of financial
or we read of lack of financial
or we read of lack of financial transparency in companies no wonder we
transparency in companies no wonder we
transparency in companies no wonder we are skeptical now because I coach and
are skeptical now because I coach and
are skeptical now because I coach and work with entrepreneurs I’m interested
work with entrepreneurs I’m interested
work with entrepreneurs I’m interested in this not just as a consumer but from
in this not just as a consumer but from
in this not just as a consumer but from the business side and we can look at
the business side and we can look at
the business side and we can look at this in another way what is business
this in another way what is business
this in another way what is business business is a social activity it is the
business is a social activity it is the
business is a social activity it is the one of the biggest platforms of social
one of the biggest platforms of social
one of the biggest platforms of social engagement that we humans have we spend
engagement that we humans have we spend
engagement that we humans have we spend a huge time a huge part of our lives
a huge time a huge part of our lives
a huge time a huge part of our lives involved in businesses we work in them
involved in businesses we work in them
involved in businesses we work in them or invest in them we buy from them and
or invest in them we buy from them and
or invest in them we buy from them and it is us who inject human qualities into
it is us who inject human qualities into
it is us who inject human qualities into them
now some say that kindness is a soft
now some say that kindness is a soft skill and I think it is it is a soft
skill and I think it is it is a soft
skill and I think it is it is a soft power that we must unapologetically use
power that we must unapologetically use
power that we must unapologetically use more of famous evolutionary biologist
more of famous evolutionary biologist
more of famous evolutionary biologist Stephen Jay Gould said that violence
Stephen Jay Gould said that violence
Stephen Jay Gould said that violence sexism and general nastiness are
sexism and general nastiness are
sexism and general nastiness are biological
biological
biological since they represent one subset of a
since they represent one subset of a
since they represent one subset of a possible range of behaviors but
possible range of behaviors but
possible range of behaviors but peacefulness equality and kindness are
peacefulness equality and kindness are
peacefulness equality and kindness are just as biological and we ways we may
just as biological and we ways we may
just as biological and we ways we may see their influence increase if we can
see their influence increase if we can
see their influence increase if we can create social structures that permit
create social structures that permit
create social structures that permit them to flourish kindness comes from
them to flourish kindness comes from
them to flourish kindness comes from empathy from being able to put ourselves
empathy from being able to put ourselves
empathy from being able to put ourselves in the shoes of others and I believe
in the shoes of others and I believe
in the shoes of others and I believe that we can intentionally create
that we can intentionally create
that we can intentionally create kindness in business that we could put
kindness in business that we could put
kindness in business that we could put kindness at the core of our business
kindness at the core of our business
kindness at the core of our business models I would like to speak to you
models I would like to speak to you
models I would like to speak to you about an experience I have had where I
about an experience I have had where I
about an experience I have had where I have been leading a Happiness Project
have been leading a Happiness Project
have been leading a Happiness Project route which has given me the amazing
route which has given me the amazing
route which has given me the amazing experience to see how our social
experience to see how our social
experience to see how our social structures can be formed to create
structures can be formed to create
structures can be formed to create empathy and reciprocity and you may ask
empathy and reciprocity and you may ask
empathy and reciprocity and you may ask yourself well what does a Happiness
yourself well what does a Happiness
yourself well what does a Happiness Project Group have to do with business
Project Group have to do with business
Project Group have to do with business well let me give you an example say
well let me give you an example say
well let me give you an example say someone from the group let’s call her
someone from the group let’s call her
someone from the group let’s call her Anna comes and says that she has had a
Anna comes and says that she has had a
Anna comes and says that she has had a conflict at work well we all put our
conflict at work well we all put our
conflict at work well we all put our heads together and we tell stories of
heads together and we tell stories of
heads together and we tell stories of times that we had a conflict at work and
times that we had a conflict at work and
times that we had a conflict at work and we all say well there are some simple
we all say well there are some simple
we all say well there are some simple actions that you can take to become
actions that you can take to become
actions that you can take to become happier that is the essence of our
happier that is the essence of our
happier that is the essence of our groups simple actions to create a result
groups simple actions to create a result
groups simple actions to create a result we all brainstorm for simple ideas that
we all brainstorm for simple ideas that
we all brainstorm for simple ideas that this person can take for example she can
this person can take for example she can
this person can take for example she can research and use more effective language
research and use more effective language
research and use more effective language or she can learn how to put better
or she can learn how to put better
or she can learn how to put better personal boundaries or she can reframe
personal boundaries or she can reframe
personal boundaries or she can reframe how she views her boss or she can gather
how she views her boss or she can gather
how she views her boss or she can gather support of other colleagues now when we
support of other colleagues now when we
support of other colleagues now when we put our head together we bring online
put our head together we bring online
put our head together we bring online resources we bring advice we bring our
resources we bring advice we bring our
resources we bring advice we bring our own insights which not only helps Ana
own insights which not only helps Ana
own insights which not only helps Ana but helps the entire group and
but helps the entire group and
but helps the entire group and ultimately of course it is up to Ana to
ultimately of course it is up to Ana to
ultimately of course it is up to Ana to take these simple actions to become
take these simple actions to become
take these simple actions to become happier but just like in a business
happier but just like in a business
happier but just like in a business setting the group environment really
setting the group environment really
setting the group environment really matters a person may be driven or be
matters a person may be driven or be
matters a person may be driven or be inspired to take action if the
inspired to take action if the
inspired to take action if the organization provides for them the
organization provides for them the
organization provides for them the systems the spaces and the technology
systems the spaces and the technology
systems the spaces and the technology where people can get together resolve
where people can get together resolve
where people can get together resolve problems using empathetic thinking now
problems using empathetic thinking now
problems using empathetic thinking now are there companies out there who are
are there companies out there who are
are there companies out there who are already creating social structures and
already creating social structures and
already creating social structures and business systems that foster empathy and
business systems that foster empathy and
business systems that foster empathy and kindness to create growth more
kindness to create growth more
kindness to create growth more importantly is the creating profits that
importantly is the creating profits that
importantly is the creating profits that we can measure you bet here is the
we can measure you bet here is the
we can measure you bet here is the empathy index these are the top 15
empathy index these are the top 15
empathy index these are the top 15 companies of the empathy index published
companies of the empathy index published
companies of the empathy index published in the Harvard Business Review it takes
in the Harvard Business Review it takes
in the Harvard Business Review it takes into consideration internal culture
into consideration internal culture
into consideration internal culture employee reviews CEO performance ethics
employee reviews CEO performance ethics
employee reviews CEO performance ethics sustainability ratings and social media
sustainability ratings and social media
sustainability ratings and social media interactions of 170 companies in major
interactions of 170 companies in major
interactions of 170 companies in major financial indexes now the top companies
financial indexes now the top companies
financial indexes now the top companies have increased in market value twice as
have increased in market value twice as
have increased in market value twice as fast as those at the bottom which means
fast as those at the bottom which means
fast as those at the bottom which means that kindness is a competitive edge
Facebook Google these are all global
Facebook Google these are all global companies but the biggest were the
companies but the biggest were the
companies but the biggest were the smallest company in the world has a big
smallest company in the world has a big
smallest company in the world has a big impact
impact
impact societies and communities and therefore
societies and communities and therefore
societies and communities and therefore the decisions taken inside them affects
the decisions taken inside them affects
the decisions taken inside them affects all of us now we as humans have an
all of us now we as humans have an
all of us now we as humans have an innate ability to be kind but sometimes
innate ability to be kind but sometimes
innate ability to be kind but sometimes it needs to be reinforced so let’s do
it needs to be reinforced so let’s do
it needs to be reinforced so let’s do like we do in the Happiness Project
like we do in the Happiness Project
like we do in the Happiness Project group I will give you three simple
group I will give you three simple
group I will give you three simple actions that you can take if you are
actions that you can take if you are
actions that you can take if you are somehow involved with the business if
somehow involved with the business if
somehow involved with the business if you’re an employee if you’re the
you’re an employee if you’re the
you’re an employee if you’re the investor if you’re somehow related to a
investor if you’re somehow related to a
investor if you’re somehow related to a business you can take these three
business you can take these three
business you can take these three actions as a tool to inject kindness
actions as a tool to inject kindness
actions as a tool to inject kindness into it first one open your wings this
into it first one open your wings this
into it first one open your wings this is very simple we need to create those
is very simple we need to create those
is very simple we need to create those social structures we need to create
social structures we need to create
social structures we need to create those business systems that drive
those business systems that drive
those business systems that drive kindness into this into the business
kindness into this into the business
kindness into this into the business we cannot say it’s not my job because
we cannot say it’s not my job because
we cannot say it’s not my job because it’s everyone’s job the first place of
it’s everyone’s job the first place of
it’s everyone’s job the first place of the empathy index one by Facebook was
the empathy index one by Facebook was
the empathy index one by Facebook was born because of the empathy lab a lab
born because of the empathy lab a lab
born because of the empathy lab a lab inside Facebook that was created by a
inside Facebook that was created by a
inside Facebook that was created by a team of engineers who wanted to make
team of engineers who wanted to make
team of engineers who wanted to make sure that the app can be used by people
sure that the app can be used by people
sure that the app can be used by people with physical disabilities it’s
with physical disabilities it’s
with physical disabilities it’s engineering with empathy and we can all
engineering with empathy and we can all
engineering with empathy and we can all do something like this there’s many
do something like this there’s many
do something like this there’s many other examples there’s employees who
other examples there’s employees who
other examples there’s employees who have started meditation clubs to reduce
have started meditation clubs to reduce
have started meditation clubs to reduce burnout and to increase self compassion
burnout and to increase self compassion
burnout and to increase self compassion there are leaders who’ve let employees
there are leaders who’ve let employees
there are leaders who’ve let employees working projects not related to the
working projects not related to the
working projects not related to the short-term but that will build the
short-term but that will build the
short-term but that will build the future what comes next
future what comes next
future what comes next what we can even imagine now so it takes
what we can even imagine now so it takes
what we can even imagine now so it takes entitlement and personal power stepping
entitlement and personal power stepping
entitlement and personal power stepping into your personal power how are you
into your personal power how are you
into your personal power how are you going to create those social structures
going to create those social structures
going to create those social structures those business systems how are you going
those business systems how are you going
those business systems how are you going to open your wings second action own
to open your wings second action own
to open your wings second action own what you sell this one’s easy right it’s
what you sell this one’s easy right it’s
what you sell this one’s easy right it’s about responsibility responsibility for
about responsibility responsibility for
about responsibility responsibility for using empathy and kindness in all
using empathy and kindness in all
using empathy and kindness in all our decisions and stopping in our tracks
our decisions and stopping in our tracks
our decisions and stopping in our tracks if we have to take a company who has who
if we have to take a company who has who
if we have to take a company who has who has a project but pulls out of this
has a project but pulls out of this
has a project but pulls out of this project because it may create ecological
project because it may create ecological
project because it may create ecological damage or ecocide how does such a
damage or ecocide how does such a
damage or ecocide how does such a company get created will the people in
company get created will the people in
company get created will the people in the company have to step into the shoes
the company have to step into the shoes
the company have to step into the shoes of the people in the community they have
of the people in the community they have
of the people in the community they have to look at kindness as their North Star
to look at kindness as their North Star
to look at kindness as their North Star and they have to go on an empathy
and they have to go on an empathy
and they have to go on an empathy journey together with their customers
journey together with their customers
journey together with their customers their employees and those communities
their employees and those communities
their employees and those communities and engage in authentic dialogue at the
and engage in authentic dialogue at the
and engage in authentic dialogue at the end they will do what’s good for the
end they will do what’s good for the
end they will do what’s good for the business and also for society kindness
business and also for society kindness
business and also for society kindness like any new habit may feel awkward at
like any new habit may feel awkward at
like any new habit may feel awkward at first and it takes real intention and
first and it takes real intention and
first and it takes real intention and repetition for it to feel natural a
repetition for it to feel natural a
repetition for it to feel natural a third action tell the truth and tell the
third action tell the truth and tell the
third action tell the truth and tell the world the more good stories that you
world the more good stories that you
world the more good stories that you create the more kindness you plant
create the more kindness you plant
create the more kindness you plant inside your organization the more you
inside your organization the more you
inside your organization the more you can tell the world and this is all about
can tell the world and this is all about
can tell the world and this is all about transparency Trust comes from being open
transparency Trust comes from being open
transparency Trust comes from being open up front now one such story that I
up front now one such story that I
up front now one such story that I personally love is what some
personally love is what some
personally love is what some supermarkets are doing to serve families
supermarkets are doing to serve families
supermarkets are doing to serve families with autistic children in the u.s. in
with autistic children in the u.s. in
with autistic children in the u.s. in the UK in Finland
the UK in Finland
the UK in Finland they open stores exclusively for these
they open stores exclusively for these
they open stores exclusively for these families so that they can have a less
families so that they can have a less
families so that they can have a less stimulating environment so that they can
stimulating environment so that they can
stimulating environment so that they can shop in silence it’s priceless for those
shop in silence it’s priceless for those
shop in silence it’s priceless for those parents and the good news is that if you
parents and the good news is that if you
parents and the good news is that if you are one of these businesses who acts and
are one of these businesses who acts and
are one of these businesses who acts and pathetically you become an influencer in
pathetically you become an influencer in
pathetically you become an influencer in your industry and other companies follow
your industry and other companies follow
your industry and other companies follow you isn’t that great
you isn’t that great
you isn’t that great now that was your your action plan for
now that was your your action plan for
now that was your your action plan for those of you who are involved somehow in
those of you who are involved somehow in
those of you who are involved somehow in a business but what about
a business but what about
a business but what about as consumers and we are all consumers
as consumers and we are all consumers
as consumers and we are all consumers consumers are the biggest moving part in
consumers are the biggest moving part in
consumers are the biggest moving part in all of the interlocking parts of the
all of the interlocking parts of the
all of the interlocking parts of the business but before I give you your
business but before I give you your
business but before I give you your action as a consumer I do want to make
action as a consumer I do want to make
action as a consumer I do want to make clear that the purpose of injecting
clear that the purpose of injecting
clear that the purpose of injecting kindness into business is not to create
kindness into business is not to create
kindness into business is not to create positive feelings on us the consumers so
positive feelings on us the consumers so
positive feelings on us the consumers so we buy more the purpose of injecting
we buy more the purpose of injecting
we buy more the purpose of injecting kindness into business is to create
kindness into business is to create
kindness into business is to create positive behaviors inside companies that
positive behaviors inside companies that
positive behaviors inside companies that will create a chain reaction out of the
will create a chain reaction out of the
will create a chain reaction out of the businesses and into society so your one
businesses and into society so your one
businesses and into society so your one action to take is to ask for kindness
action to take is to ask for kindness
action to take is to ask for kindness consumers need to tell the companies
consumers need to tell the companies
consumers need to tell the companies that we want a real connection that we
that we want a real connection that we
that we want a real connection that we want to feel that there is a good and
want to feel that there is a good and
want to feel that there is a good and positive impact in our lives that in our
positive impact in our lives that in our
positive impact in our lives that in our communities and businesses need a
communities and businesses need a
communities and businesses need a mandate from us so yes complain email
mandate from us so yes complain email
mandate from us so yes complain email posting social media blog suggest new
posting social media blog suggest new
posting social media blog suggest new ways that businesses can be kind to us
ways that businesses can be kind to us
ways that businesses can be kind to us and especially educate yourself be a
and especially educate yourself be a
and especially educate yourself be a conscious consumer and it’s a two-way
conscious consumer and it’s a two-way
conscious consumer and it’s a two-way street so give feedback to those that
street so give feedback to those that
street so give feedback to those that are on the right track give
are on the right track give
are on the right track give encouragement to those companies that
encouragement to those companies that
encouragement to those companies that are being kind back to my nightmare
are being kind back to my nightmare
are being kind back to my nightmare today I don’t feel resistance anymore I
today I don’t feel resistance anymore I
today I don’t feel resistance anymore I know that we as human beings have the
know that we as human beings have the
know that we as human beings have the ability to be empathetic in all of our
ability to be empathetic in all of our
ability to be empathetic in all of our relationships and I know what happens
relationships and I know what happens
relationships and I know what happens when a group of us gets together and
when a group of us gets together and
when a group of us gets together and takes action I have no doubt that we can
takes action I have no doubt that we can
takes action I have no doubt that we can intentionally make decisions with
intentionally make decisions with
intentionally make decisions with kindness in business and we have more
kindness in business and we have more
kindness in business and we have more than enough proof that kindness is viral
than enough proof that kindness is viral
than enough proof that kindness is viral that kindness is a competitive edge and
that kindness is a competitive edge and
that kindness is a competitive edge and that kindness is great for business
that kindness is great for business
that kindness is great for business so join the movement and spread this
so join the movement and spread this
so join the movement and spread this idea and do your part to put kindness
idea and do your part to put kindness
idea and do your part to put kindness into businesses today thank you
into businesses today thank you
into businesses today thank you [Applause]
”
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