Be kind, always

By Kerryn Vaughan

7th May, 2026

I honestly don't know who to credit this image to, but I do know it's perfect.

Things I hear so often - from leaders (and others):

Why can't they just focus?

They're always so grumpy.

They can't control their emotions and it's unsettling.

They won't stop fidgeting.

It's just a dog!

And so many other things that originate from personal biases and expectations.

But we don't know what anybody else's story is, and even if they've told us some of it, there's always more.

What if we just practised kindness?

What if we just met people where they are?

What if we cared rather than criticised?

Personally, I don't have all the answers - but I do know that when we lean into kindness, the ripple effect is enormous.

I hope this inspires you to look at just one person differently this week.

We all deserve compassion ❤️

Kerryn Vaughan is the author of ‘Magnificent Kids!’ and ‘Get Off The Bench!’, co-founder of Girls With Hammers, and host of Get Off The Bench Podcast.

Kerryn is a leadership facilitator and the founder of Confident Leaders Program and The Confidence CAP, as well as an accredited DISC ADVANCED® consultant.