4 Ideas to Reward Small Acts of Kindness
If there’s something that can definitely make the world a better place, it’s kindness. Teaching a kid kindness is a continual process that needs the participation of everyone surrounding the child. Even up to adulthood, kindness should remain one of the core values to possess. That’s why it’s important to practice acts of kindness even in the most random way possible.
A random act of kindness is a selfless act committed by anyone unexpectedly, without prompting and with no apparent ulterior motive. It can be big or small, and it does not matter to whom the act is directed.
The best thing about random acts of kindness is that they can be done by anyone with a willingness to help others without expecting anything in return.
Examples of Random Acts of Kindness
As mentioned, random acts of kindness can come in any form. Here are some examples:
- Helping an elderly person cross the street
- Holding the elevator door
- Paying for someone else’s coffee or restaurant bill
- Running errands for friends or family members
- Picking up litter
- Walking the neighbor’s dog
- Babysitting for free
- Giving small gifts to helpers, cleaning ladies, bellhops, etc.
- Leaving a generous tip to the servers at a restaurant
- Supporting small local businesses by buying from them
- Donating food and clothes to charity
- Volunteering at the nearby animal shelter
- Offering to take a photo for tourists
- Making dinner for the family
- Giving a hug to someone feeling down
Although the person performing the random act of kindness should not be expecting something in return, rewarding these good deeds can also be a way of paying things forward. So if you know someone who has a knack for doing random acts of kindness, here are some rewards you can give them.
1. Give a Pat on the Back
There’s no easier and more effective way to tell someone that they have been good than to give them a simple pat on the back. Studies show that receiving a compliment, especially from someone you least expect, has the same positive effect as that when receiving monetary rewards.
Compliments may not help someone pay their bills, but they’re a great way to brighten up someone else’s day. These can encourage them to continue doing better in their tasks.
2. Present an Award or Certificate
Bigger acts of kindness—be they raising the highest funds for donation or gathering more people to sign up and volunteer for a cause—deserve to get bigger rewards. Give the good person a trophy to commemorate their kind deed.
You can buy a high-quality trophy that won’t burn a hole in the pocket but will definitely show the receiver that they are well appreciated. Customize it with their names, and come up with unique awards to further spread more positivity.
3. Send a Good Word to the Boss about Him/Her
Of course, being kind to others is an important factor in being a great employee. If you notice someone in the team who’s going the extra mile just to spread kindness, the best way to show appreciation is to put in a good word for them to the boss.
It can be as simple as complimenting the person in front of the team or mentioning these good deeds to the manager. If you want to do more, you may also write a recommendation letter to let management know that the person is a valuable asset to the company.
4. Be Kind
There’s no better way to repay someone who’s done well than to pay it forward. Don’t let kindness stop at the person who’s always doing random acts of kindness. Instead, be the person who helps other people without expecting something in return. There are a lot of ways to show kindness and compassion to anyone, and even the smallest act can make the biggest impact.
Overall, kindness should be everyone’s general outlook toward everything. Little acts of kindness can help change the world positively. Remember the words of William Wordsworth: “that best portion of a man’s life, his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love.”
