By Jill Lublin

Consider the profit of kindness as a new kind of payment plan, one to which you commit yourself and your organization in order to build equity in other people, services, yourself, and your future. It is a plan based on seven ways to generate returns on building long-lasting relationships through open exchange, resulting in mutually beneficial results.

1. Connectivity.

Kindness contains the word kin. “Kin” means relationship between people, a connected group. In business, you can’t have kindness without connection, or connection without kindness.

The first rule for connectivity is quality over quantity. Sure, you can’t contact everyone, but you can maximize the short amount of time you have with people in simple ways. Rule #2 is to always have a card on hand with testimonials on them. It is a great tool and a great connector by bringing your credibility directly to the prospect. Rule #3 is to know your request. People are busy. Whether at a networking or another type of event, there’s no time to waste playing guessing games.

2. Gratitude.
To succeed in your work environment, employees, customers, and colleagues must feel appreciated, that their work means something, and their patronage and loyalty underline the organization’s success.

If you see someone struggling, offer to help them. We struggle with our own stresses and time crunches, so the act of generosity packs a lot of punch. Offer handwritten notes of recognition as your time spent finding and writing a card can make a lasting impression.

Be generous with your time, your gratitude, and your skills to instill a culture of kindness.

3. Patience.
Patience is what keeps a sturdy bridge between people; impatience sends connectivity and the bonds we most desire in life toppling down. Patience is the main ingredient of the potion, with essentials of optimism, humility, and forgiveness to get it bubbling.

4. Flexibility.
Flexibility is the key to life and to all healthy relationships. In fact, to be flexible is to be adaptable.

No one wants to be slaves to the grind. Using flexibility, we don’t have to be. The kind gesture of flexibility in thought, mindset, and schedule shows that you and he organization are of 21st-century ilk and your sights are steadily on the future.

5. Generosity.
In your organization there are a multitude of opportunities to be generous toward residents, staff, and—don’t forget—yourself!

You possess the best commodity: time. Imagine residents, peers, and employees who see you as approachable and available. Being generous with time when you think it matters will pay off.

For even the most mundane thing, be generous with thanking, compliments, and praising of everyone in your organization. People notice that you take time out of your schedule to notice and acknowledge them.

6. Compassion.
Care and compassion cannot be faked. Leaders must want to be authentic in connecting with people and build it into the mission and organizational culture. Consider revamping organizational culture into a compassion culture. Practice forgiveness, offer constructive criticism, and give the benefit of the doubt.

7. Positivity.
In bad times, trying being positive and saying to yourself “Okay, I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing and do it well,” and also having a great attitude will make a difference in your life.

A secret to a state of positivity is breathing. Deep breathing transcends all kinds of negativity and combats reactivity in the moment. Take four deep, long breaths. In the four breath-long pause, stop for a moment before the moment stops you.

Positivity gives us the strength to look at the most dismal circumstances, and rather than pulling our heads into the sanctuary and darkness of our protective shells, we find solutions.

Jill Lublin is a trainer and presenter, and author of The Profit of Kindness: How to Influence Others, Establish Trust, and Build Lasting Business Relationships (Career Press, January 2017) (http://jilllublin.com).