What is your Kindness Quotient?

Robert Herjavec is one of the sharks on SharkTank. He is the 'kind' shark and one who often exudes compassion and gentleness with the entrepreneurs who present. But that compassion and kindness is often misunderstood.

One of my favorite quotes from Robert is "Don't mistake my kindness for weakness." Several persons have been given credit for this quip, including the U.S. Marines, Al Capone and even the Dalai Lama. I'm sure others have said it, but it was powerful in the moment Robert spoke those words, and it stuck with me.

We like the idea of being kind. In theory I think most people want to be perceived as kind. But too often kindness is indeed viewed as weakness. It takes a back seat to the perceived strength of being direct or even harsh. We sacrifice kindness too easily.

So as we enter this weekend, let's take a moment to self-assess and explore how we stack up on this kindness inventory:

💠 What is my core reaction when I see people struggling? Am I compelled to reach out and help?
💠 When I have an opportunity to call someone out for their oversight or error, do I?
💠 Do I seek opportunities to make people feel seen or heard?
💠 Do I lean into encouragement over criticism?

Reflect. Think. Be honest with yourself. I commit this weekend to look for ways to beef up my kindness quotient. Will you join me?

-Mindy Muller, CFRE, President/CEO of CDP

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