Last week, someone cried because of me (actually more than one person!)
Not because I hurt them, but because I was kind.
It wasn’t a grand gesture. Just a few thoughtful words. A quiet moment. The kind you could almost miss if you weren’t paying attention.
We were wrapping up a conversation, and I noticed their eyes welling. I paused and gently asked, “Are you okay?” They nodded, tried to brush it off.
Then I asked, “Can I ask, what made you tear up?”
They took a breath, smiled through it, and said:
“It’s just… you’re being kind.”
That stopped me
Kind? That’s what made the tears come?
Hold on a moment……..
The more I thought about it, the more I understood. Sometimes, kindness breaks people open, not because they’re fragile, but because they’ve been strong for too long. Because they’re used to carrying things alone. Because they give so much, and rarely have it returned without strings.
All too often I’m hearing people pause, and thank me for being kind. I’m starting to ponder, is it really something that doesn’t exist as much as it should anymore?
Kindness Is a Values Act
It’s not about being “nice.”
It was about seeing someone. Creating space. Choosing care over convenience. Being present.
Kindness is where our values get real. It is lived through not only our words, but our actions too.
Too often, we write values down like they’re just ideas. But values are lived or lost in the micro-moments. How we treat people when no one’s watching.
Whether we offer softness in a world that can feel sharp-edged.
In fast, full workplaces, kindness can feel like a luxury. But it’s not. It’s a radical leadership act.
When someone cries because we were kind, it doesn’t mean they’re fragile. It means kindness has become rare enough to startle us. It means people are craving something deeper, something more human.
Kindness reminds people they matter. That they’re seen. That they don’t have to keep armouring up just to get through the day.
Try This
This week, be a little more kind than necessary.
Ask someone how they really are, and wait for the real answer.Tell them what you appreciate about who they are, not just what they do.Slow down. Let your values show.
It doesn’t take much. But it might be everything.
How do you lead values – personally and at your workplace?
`Lisa