Be Kind and Be There

I often wonder what the best thing is that I can do. As I look at my options, I realize that there is only one thing which stands out. The best thing I can do is be there. Just being there with others shows you care.

To stand shoulder to shoulder with others is extremely important. It shows that you care. You care enough to be there. Be humble and give honest advice when asked. But most of all be genuine.

Be a good listener. Do not interrupt. Listen to what the person says, rather than trying to formulate a response. The response will mean more if you have taken the time to hear the person’s full statement.

When you do make a comment on what the person has told you, be kind and honest. Talk to the person like you would like to be talked to. And remember the idea is to make them feel better and be better informed than when you started.

If you don’t have an answer to their situation, do not make one up. An honest answer of not being sure, given with empathy, always trumps a made-up answer that will not help the other person in the long run.

The best way to approach others is usually the way you would hope that they would talk to you. In a world full of so many slamming doors, so many people going unnoticed, and where so much heartbreak exists, kindness and empathy stand out like a beacon. If you are that beacon, you will indeed be remembered as such.

Have a great day. I will post again soon.

Author: Mike Balof

A retired Air Force Master Sergeant, Mike used to lay in bed at night and worry about what would happen if his plant closed or found himself without a job. One day his plant closed. Rather than panic and hysteria (OK, maybe a little) Mike found himself carried away on the adventure of his life. Mike started with the best job he ever had working at Home Depot. He spent 8 years working with job seekers at a local workforce center, helping them to find employment. He then started his own company developing courses, writing books and urging others to follow their own paths into the future. Mike holds a Master of Arts in Adult Education and Training and a Bachelor of Business Management, earned through the University of Phoenix and an AAS degree in Electronics Systems Technology from the Community College of the Air Force. Mike is a member of the Delta Mu Delta Business Honor Society. View all posts by Mike Balof