So, I want to tell you a story about how this one thing can pay off tenfold…
Just a few weeks ago, I stumbled upon an old “google group” of emails of all the people in my grad school cohort from eight years ago. (I know I can’t believe it’s been eight years since I went to grad school too! Yikes!) 🙂 Anyway, I wondered if it still worked, so I wrote an email to the entire group, just giving an update on my life over the past eight years and not knowing if this old “google group” even worked and if the emails were still valid.
Well, lo and behold, it worked! I was kind of embarrassed as I didn’t think it would. To my surprise, many people enjoyed the update and started writing their own updates and how life has been for them over the past several years. It was pretty cool and it turned into a kind of a nice “email” reunion.
One of my friends from grad school even reached out asking if I could make an introduction to a hiring manager that I happened to be connected to via LinkedIn. This job, which she had just applied to, was her dream job, so of course, I wanted to help. Why not!?
Now here is the thing, I know some people who would probably give her the side eye, saying something like, “Wait a second, you want me to introduce you to someone and we haven’t spoken in eight years… yeah right, good luck,” or the person would not even respond and roll their eyes over the request, and keep it moving. Right? I think we all know people like that (or maybe we are one of them…)
So here is the thing. I have been in her spot. I know what it’s like to try to find your “dream job.” I also know what it’s like to apply for a ton of jobs and not hear back. (Maybe you can relate too…) It’s as if your application falls into a deep dark hole. I have also applied to jobs where I knew the hiring manager and still — nothing. The struggle is real. It is hard and if you can offer to help someone, I would encourage you to do so, even if it has been years.
Anyway, so, as it turned out, I didn’t even know the hiring manager I was connected to on Linkedin. I honestly don’t even know how we were even connected. But I figured, you know what, what the heck, I decided I would reach out to this person anyway.
I wrote a glowing review of my friend, talking about the amazing person that she is and what I know she is capable of doing and how she would make an excellent candidate for the position. I attached her resume and cover letter, bcc-ed my friend and sent it off.
I got an email back from my friend saying that the email I sent brought her to tears and how grateful she was for me sending her application to the hiring manager! She then proceeded to tell me how she worked hours on that cover letter to make it perfect and hoped that someone would see it. She even said to herself, if someone just saw her application she would be happy. Now, she felt like someone did. She was so grateful.
I was super touched by her email, but especially, when she said that she “worked for hours on that cover letter.” Wow! You see, we never know what people are going through and the hard work, intention and effort that is going on behind the scenes. That made me want to cry.
It was such a small gesture that made such an impact. She then took it a step further, and ended up writing me a thank you note and sending me a gift card! All for just writing an email. What!? It was totally unnecessary for her to do all of that, but it totally made my day. I was so happy and grateful that I was able to help her in some small way.
The one thing that pays tenfold is kindness. Kindness brings happiness to yourself and others. Imagine if businesses acted with more kindness and compassion. Perhaps employee engagement would rise to the next level? Perhaps we would see profits rise to the next level? I think the business community and our world in general could use a little more kindness. Let’s support each other in this journey of life and business. Next time we have the opportunity (which could be any opportunity, at any moment, like right now, by the way), just be kind, I dare you. 🙂
Let me know how it worked out. I would love to hear your stories of kindness or your thoughts on kindness in the workplace, business, etc. Talk soon.
Originally published at www.linkedin.com