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Do not try to be the smartest in the room; try to be the kindest

jorgegalindo.me

1–10 of 260 posts

Re: Do not try to be the smartest in the room; try to be the kindest

#2
In my latest blog post, I highlight the value of kindness over intelligence in the workplace. I talk about how being kind—through listening, respecting others, showing empathy, and focusing on solutions—can significantly enhance team dynamics and productivity. While being smart is important, I believe that kindness leaves a lasting impact and creates a more positive and effective work environment.

Re: Do not try to be the smartest in the room; try to be the kindest

#4
That is the ideal but the results depend on the work place or the OSS project. I have started out like that twice and was walked over by other people.

Kindness with true reciprocity is very hard to find (I do not mean CoC compliant fake kindness that just keeps the actual power structures in place while everyone is backstabbing.)

Re: Do not try to be the smartest in the room; try to be the kindest

#5
post #3

Wouldn't say You have to choose one over another. Smartness without kindness makes you a dick. Kindness without some smartness makes you 'fake', or at least 'valueless'.

You're choosing one over another. You said kindness with some smartness, which implies kindness = 1.0, and smartness = some value between 0.0 and 1.0.

The author never implies that one should be kind to the exclusion of being smart.

Re: Do not try to be the smartest in the room; try to be the kindest

#6
Work is hard and stressful. If we're sweet and kind to one-another, we get through it more easily, no matter how smart each of us is individually. Being kind is an investment, and its dividends pay out enormously as your organization grows. Like the article says, it's infectious. I believe that. I believe that if I show kindness, especially to people who are new to the organization, they'll mirror it right back, and try to show it to everyone else, too.

Re: Do not try to be the smartest in the room; try to be the kindest

#7
Another way of putting it might be that there’s very little you can do to will yourself to be smarter, but you don’t have to go far out of your way to be kind.

(Personally I’m not sure “kindness” is necessarily the right word that encompasses the four qualities listed. Resolutive? Seems like that’s something independent.)

Re: Do not try to be the smartest in the room; try to be the kindest

#10
post #3

Wouldn't say You have to choose one over another. Smartness without kindness makes you a dick. Kindness without some smartness makes you 'fake', or at least 'valueless'.

Would kindness without intelligence (discernment) be more like naïve and easy to take advantage of?

Not sure why it makes you fake, there's lots of nice, simple people that are authentic

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