In our fast paced results orientated world, I think kindness is greatly underrated and rarely looked for in an interview process. Kindness is not always seen as a priority in the workplace, and historically seen as contrast with the traditional image of a successful business person.

Never has kindness been needed most as during the last few weeks and coming months. Giving co-workers the space and time to deal with the challenges nature has in store will be vital for success during these difficult times. The speed of change has been rapid, as we’ve gone from canceling meetings to entire countries locking down in a matter of days.

There hasn’t been an event like this in my lifetime that has dominated the thoughts of so many people. It’s during times like this you find out the most about yourself and those around you. It doesn’t matter where you happen to be in the world, it’s odd to think that so many other people are sharing this same experience.

This shared experience, so eloquently described by Sebastian Junker in his book “Tribe: on homecoming and belonging” is maybe the silver lining in the worst pandemic in my lifetime. A virus attacks you regardless of race, gender, age, beliefs – this is a shared threat all humans must face. When this is over, things will be different from jobs to what you value most. A shared experience like this brings everyone that bit closer together and I hope that little bit kinder to each other.

Lewis Maleh, Founder
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