A few weeks ago I was at an event and there was a woman standing in front of me who said "Hello, Claudia". I said hello back as though I knew her but I didn't , at first , (naughty, I know!). She went on to say "I was a volunteer at the first WOW Festival you produced, I was a student at the time and you were very kind to us." That festival was in 2011, five years ago and she remembered that I was kind to her. I was humbled and said thank you. Now that festival was not perfect by any means, it had all the issues that a new festival could have but it filled me with joy that she remembered the kindness. It validated something I have been thinking about for quite some time.
I believe it's really important to take into consideration the experience you want people to have when they work with you. People will always remember how you made them feel and not what you 'accomplished' (eg: increasing the annual turnover of your organisation; increasing audiences to your venue). I wish more people who are in positions of leadership (my experience is the arts but this could easily reach out to non arts leaders) would take this into consideration. I know I'd see less trauma filled workplaces and healthier and happier people. Treating people with kindness does not make a less productive work place or world. Quite the opposite. Kindness gives space for growth and new thoughts; kindness nurtures process; kindness is an extension of love. And right now, kindness and love are very much needed for those we know and those we don't know.