A case for kindness

This is the year of abounding kindness. Since coming to Mozambique I have been given many opportunities for kindness in my new role. I can't say I have always responded the best way possible.

One of the changes in the relocation is that I am now in charge of HR for the four offices and nearly 300 staff. This poses many challenges and provides many opportunities for kindness. My job is essentially an office job, my investment is in the staff rather than the beneficiaries (which is not always the way I want it, it is just the way it is). Practically each day I am confronted with a case for kindness.

In my first week one of our security guards in a northern province experienced a stroke. He is now paralyzed, can't speak or walk. In my role, how should I best respond to that? Well, we tried to get him medical care ASAP and to work with the INSS (social security) to get his benefits quickly.

This week I received very sad news. One of the cooks in the same province was found dead. The cause of his death was alcohol poisoning from overconsumption. We had written him up recently for coming to work drunk. Following his death we discovered that he lost a child last year and his wife had left him. These events likely influenced his alcohol consumption. I didn't know his circumstances, was there something I could have done to help? Could I have been more sensitive? How many people do I interact with daily who have struggles that I am blind to?

Granted, we all still have choices to make, but this event has reminded me why I chose kindness as a theme this year and I hope I will demonstrate it more often in daily interactions.

We are five months in to the year, how are you doing in keeping your new year's resolution?