Random Acts of Kindness Day

How kind are you? And does it matter in property management? Does it make your company better?

Everyone can use more kindness in their lives, and at the moment, in the situation we are all living in, we need the positive effects of doing and receiving kind acts.

I?’ve always believed in kindness though. It’s such an undervalued trait to be described as ‘kind’ and yet it’s one of the most powerful. A kind person will make you feel valued and important, will notice if you are having a bad time or a rough day. That is the person who will take you aside, drop you a note or pick up the phone. They will make it a priority to reach out. I aspire myself to be kind and to teach my child the value of kindness.

There is science behind the idea that both giving and receiving has beneficial consequences on our well-being. Scientists have found that the act of ‘giving’ stimulates the brain, releasing endorphins and creates what is known as the ‘helper’s high’. 

For me kindness in business is also very important as it speaks to good customer service, it speaks to a deep understanding that how you make a client, or supplier, feel is the one thing which stays with them – when they are assessing the ongoing value of your service or product. Even Maya Angelou famously said people would ‘always remember how you made them feel’. Kindness in business is at the heart of a good, modern business as far as I’m concerned. 

And you never know how any generous act can help, even the smallest act of kindness can change someone’s life. If you are truly kind, occasionally you will be blessed enough to see the outcome of your kindness, however you will not care about this. 

Opportunities I’ve had during lockdown to make acts of kindness:

I have always believed that it is important to think of others, and be helpful, kind and considerate. To be able to help people in my own community is important.

1. I recently found a local charity that needed laptops for refugee children who didn’t have access to their own hardware. We donated five new laptops to Cheltenham Welcomes Refugees and arranged for another local business, Dependable Ltd to donate a laptop as well. 

The laptops, YESTEL T5 tablet computers, were set up with the latest high-definition LCD displays, and eight-core processors.

2. During lockdown, I set up a group of volunteers to help those living in our managed developments who were vulnerable or shielding.

We helped out with food shopping, collecting prescriptions or medicines, posting letters, helping them to attend vital medical appointments, or just giving them a call to check they were ok.

3. For International book giving day, we donated 50 children’s books to a local school. This is so the school have more books for each year group so more than one child can read a particular book at any one time. 

4. We’ve also managed to keep in touch with our clients when needed via web-based systems, so they knew they could always contact us.

Other ‘kind’ things which are important to me:

*My business is designated ‘dementia friendly’ – you can see my personal story here – for me it’s important for others to know that my business and all of my team are dementia-aware and will treat anyone around us with care and compassion if they are confused, lost or distressed.

*We have a collaborative and give-back attitude – as my business grows supporting others will become part of our ethos. There are very practical, as well as personal reasons for this. It actually helps with recruitment and retention of staff; the best companies show that they care. Also showing that you care is something any company can do, however small or large.

*Property management is not just about bricks and mortar – it’s about being kind. Kind to those who own the buildings and relieving any stress or pressure they may be feeling around their properties – kind to tenants who, after all, are putting their faith in you around their homes and communal areas around their homes. Good property management is about people first.

What else can we all do during lockdown as acts of kindness?

• Call a friend or family member just to chat.
• Send an email just to say hello.
• Organise a zoom call to someone you haven’t been in touch with for a while.
• Buy someone a small present online & send it to them, just because…
• Send a card or a letter to someone just to let you know you are thinking of them.
• Send that long intended Facebook message that you’ve just not got round to, to that friend who moved away.
• Bake something for a neighbour or friend

"If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap.  If you want happiness for a day, go fishing.  If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune.  If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody."  ~Chinese proverb