Natalie Ellis HR

As many of you know, I work voluntarily as part of the Northamptonshire CIPD committee and when I attend meetings with them, there is a real team spirit and I’m so lucky to have the opportunity to work with them.

I spoke to Gill Amos about what she thought about the #HRActsofKindness initiative and I’m so pleased that I have got to know her this year. She has been a pleasure to work alongside and I can’t wait to work with her again in the new year! Here’s what she had to say on all things kindness:

“I think it is consideration for others and their needs.  It starts with the small things – good manners.  It is about genuine acts of thoughtfulness when people know that there are difficult things happening elsewhere.  Thinking about how you can help rather than being out for yourself.”

Paul Beesley is also on the committee and he has been incredibly supportive of me this year by supporting my development so thank you Paul for being there for me in 2016, I hope we get more opportunity to work together in 2017.

Paul’s company; Beyond Theory has a simple but highly effective mantra, where kindness is pretty much built in as standard; “Look after your people and they’ll take care of your business.”

Kindness is simple and something we can all do, it should be part of our daily working lives. Can you imagine the possibilities if people work together and we’re kinder to each other?

Don’t get me wrong, we cannot get along with everyone that we work with but we can certainly share ideas, be more innovative and demonstrate respect throughout our professional lives. Being kind doesn’t mean it’s boring either, it’s easy to make someone’s day just that little bit brighter, the important thing is not to take our days for granted and not to focus on the negatives, we simply learn from them.

 

 

Hello everyone, I hope you’re all well and enjoying the HR Acts of Kindness challenges list.

I need help from all of you as I want to do something fantastically brilliant to say a special thank you to everyone who has participated in the challenge. I would love to have a picture of you and your teams holding up a piece of paper with the #HRActsofKindness on it!

Once you have taken your smashing photographs, please send them through to me at: natalieellis084@gmail.com and the surprise will be released on 19th December!

 

 

Whilst I was at CIPD ACE 16, I met a young man on the MOL stand, little did I know that he had been following my blog and he bounced over to me wearing huge monster shaped slippers and introduced himself (this is a true story!). David told me that he felt inspired and really liked watching people get involved with #HRActsofKindness so he gave me some insight as to why he wanted to get involved this time around.

“I loved the idea of what you did last time however due to not really knowing the bloggers and HR individuals on Twitter I didn’t get involved myself. I regretted it after so when the opportunity came around to get involved now I threw myself at the opportunity. I feel there is so much going on and changing in the world we forget to stop and take appreciation of small things that happen such as a colleague making you a brew or a birthday taking place and I feel #HRActsofKIndness is a great way for people to do selfless acts of appreciation and generosity and like the film I seen as a child ‘Pay it forward’ I started it here in the MOL Learn office and now others are getting involved too and just discussing the things we do and the positive attitude I feel heightens within the workplace.”

David is a highly motivated person, who really wants to get involved and make a difference and he’s been up to all sorts, spreading kindness and motivating others which is why David is one of my first Kindness Champions. He’s also determined to step into a HR for a career so keep an eye out for him as whatever steps he takes, he’s certainly one to watch!

 

 

‘The way you see someone affects the way you serve them. The way you serve someone affects the way they see you. Kindness is first seen, then expressed’

Joy Marsden – Keep Stepping

I simply adore this quote from Joy and she has certainly been a strong influence in my mind set since I met her in October at MAP, I’m hoping to continue to use that mind set as I progress through the remainder of 2016 into 2017 and beyond!

We are all aware that the world could do with a lot more kindness right now and with the season of goodwill quickly approaching, now is the perfect time to make a small change in your life to make a big impact on someone else’s.

Some of you are creating giving advent boxes for your local communities, some are passing out compliments, others are some are donating clothes to homeless shelters, arranging Christmas parties, some of you are donating money to charities rather than sending Christmas cards; the kindness just keeps on going!

The idea may be simple but it is effective and I would urge as many of you to get involved and make the end of 2016 memorable for all the right reasons!

What a journey it has been so far, you are all incredible!

Just a quick note to thank all of you in taking part and spreading some kindness in your workplaces and businesses.

Congratulations to David Hawthorne, Janet Webb and Tom Robinson for being crowned the first kindness champions, there are more to come and do keep an eye out for those little gifts I have sent!

Tomorrow is 1st December and I hope you’re all getting ready to prepare your advent boxes as well as opening those calendars! You’re really going to make someone’s Christmas wish come true.

Coming up are some more thoughts on kindness from our HR professionals so do keep an eye out for that later on today and throughout the lead up to Christmas.

Have a wonderful day and keep passing the kindness on!