Commentary: be thoughtful, always

  • Published
  • By SMSgt Elise Redziniak, First Sergeant, AF Life Cycle Management Center
Small and thoughtful gestures can be simple for the giver and mean the world to the recipient. Be kind always as you never know what others are going through.   
 
I remember a cold winter day that my plane landed in Omaha, NE where I was greeted with quite a bit of snow on the ground and a freezing temperature. As I neared my vehicle in long-term parking, I learned my car battery was dead. I couldn’t even get into the car as it required power to access the doors and my long day of traveling quickly turned into a minor meltdown as I sat on the concrete in the parking lot helpless and crying. However, a woman driving the airport shuttle stopped to check on me and paused her schedule to let me warm up in her vehicle while I figured out my next steps to get home. Although this occurred many years ago, I still remember her kind gesture and how that is a perfect example of a thoughtful person. 
 
There are other times we are lucky enough to experience thoughtful people as we go about our day. This can range from the simple gesture of opening a door for someone, a pleasant greeting, to being surprised at a drive-thru to learn that the stranger ahead of you paid for your order. 
 
Being thoughtful can extend beyond our personal lives into our work centers and it really doesn’t require too much effort. Extending thoughtfulness to another person requires action. A thoughtful leader is not only someone who understands their own decision making but is also someone who is intentional in learning their teammate’s perspective. This will drive empathetic behavior toward all co-workers. As I sat down with my team and discussed what types of thoughtful things they do amongst one another, they mentioned celebrating birthdays and milestones, paying attention to self-care patterns and stress levels. Checking in on our teammates and active listening is a great way to stay connected and lets them know they have someone that cares.
 
Another way we can continue our journey of being thoughtful is by building an inclusive environment for all members of the team and encouraging open dialogue to gain understanding of each individual’s personal and professional goals. Be mindful of what motivates each person, especially when it comes to rewarding them for great work. Some people cringe at the thought of winning awards and being in front of an audience to receive it but instead prefer time off or a financial incentive. Another great way to be thoughtful is to learn about family members. It can be as easy as asking how someone’s child did in their sports game or how a doctor’s appointment went. 
 
Take time to come together as a team and start planning a way to give back to the community or the base populace. This can be accomplished by providing random acts of kindness for people or volunteering at local food pantries and clothing drives. Contributing time and resources toward a good cause is extremely beneficial to a team as it provides a feeling of achievement, the creation of memories and the development of stronger bonds. Inviting family members to such events is also helpful as a way to give back to the community and to strengthen co-worker relationships.
 
Authentic and thoughtful leaders are needed in our organizations as this is one of the most important skills that we can display while leading our teams to drive trusting relationships and retention. The pandemic has caused significant stress and being able to reach coworkers on a personal level is important in finding out where we can assist or provide resources. People are more apt to be engaged, innovative and feel a sense of belonging when they work for an empathetic leader. 
 
Being a thoughtful leader has health benefits, too. Being kind and thoughtful translates into caring and helping those around us. The Mayo Clinic reports being kind increases self-esteem, empathy and overall mood. Another positive benefit is that being thoughtful lowers stress levels and strengthens relationships. Remember the drive-thru scenario where a stranger pays for the person behind them in line? This is a contagious act and most times it will continue throughout the day to other customers because people want to keep paying it forward. Kindness and thoughtfulness enhance feelings of well-being and endorphins, which makes us feel great physically and mentally!   
 
We may experience more thoughtful behavior from others during the holiday season as people are compelled to give but I challenge everyone to live with intention and do at least one thoughtful gesture each day for someone throughout all seasons of the year.