By Brian S. Brown
VPO, Post-Acute Care, Midwest and Southwest Regions
Why Does World Kindness Day Matter?
World Kindness Day is important because it highlights the power of kindness to promote empathy, goodwill and a global culture of compassion. At TeamHealth, we believe kindness is foundational to exceptional care. This World Kindness Day, we celebrate our team members who foster a culture of compassion and support every day. From listening attentively to patient concerns to supporting one another through challenges, our commitment to kindness strengthens our teams and enhances the lives of those we serve. Together, we create a positive impact that extends beyond healthcare, inspiring others to lead with empathy and respect.
Brian S. Brown, VPO, Post-Acute Care, Midwest and Southwest Regions, began sending daily emails to TeamHealth team members back in 2020, as a way to lift spirits for our employees and encourage kindness within the workplace and beyond. Brian shares what kindness means to him on World Kindness Day and the impact we can all make on our communities by spreading hope. Brian says, “It’s not just being kind to others, it’s also about being kind to yourself. At the end of the day, it’s truly about being the change that we want to see in the world; however, it starts with the person that we greet in the mirror every day.”
What Inspired You to Encourage Kindness in Your Community?
My wife suffers from clinical depression, anxiety, and OCD. During the winter, seasonal affective disorder crushes her. My wife and I created our family mission 10 years ago, called Keeping KC’s Homeless Warm. The goal is to allow my wife to make a positive impact during the hardest time of the year for her, in efforts to support her health and the community.
This project had so many positive effects on my family. Some of the impacts of the initiative included teaching my children the value of serving others and looking forward to our outreach events annually. It also included helping my wife generate the needed serotonin (“helping highs”) that she needed to get through the winter months. As much as this project blessed our community, it exponentially blessed our home.
What Motivated You to Spread Kindness at TeamHealth via Email?
I embarked on this Kindness Campaign of sending emails back in 2020, because during this time of year I was always helping others and supporting my wife – with COVID, that wasn’t occurring anymore. Ultimately, it prepares me for the journey that I embark on every winter with my wife and the challenges that she experiences.
The exercise of sending out daily posts allows me to perfect the practice of being self-aware of how I interact with others in the world. In going into this transparent process, if I am able to encourage or provide a message to a colleague that may have needed something at that time, then that’s a pretty good thing.
How Do Your Acts of Kindness Support the Culture at TeamHealth?
We all can have a huge impact on our peers, no matter our role in the organization.
My hope is for individuals to bring more of their genuine selves to work, because they feel respected and valued—and in this environment, there is room for greater innovation, collaboration and contribution. With kindness and respect, people can take greater risks and push for accomplishment, knowing others care for them and will support them.
Service to others invites us to connect with others in ways that nurture our collective well-being. We practice treating others as we wish to be treated – this mantra transcends all boundaries and reminds us all of the community we share.
Discover how we promote clinician wellness TeamHealth.