Be Kind: The Most Overlooked Driver of Success From Think Fast Talk Smart

What if kindness isn’t a soft skill — but a strategic one? In this special episode from Think Fast, Talk Smart , host Matt Abrahams talks with management professor Bonnie Hayden Cheng about the business case for kindness. Her research on the “return on kindness” suggests that organizations grounded in compassion, candor, and trust often see stronger performance, deeper engagement, and healthier workplace cultures. Together, they explore how thoughtful communication shapes both relationships and results, and how small shifts can make a meaningful impact at work. Think Fast, Talk Smart focuses on one of the most essential professional skills: communication. The podcast features conversations with leading researchers, authors, and practitioners who share practical, research-backed strategies you can use right away. Tune in twice a week for clear, actionable communication advice for virtually any professional situation. Or follow this link to listen more: Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can listen to Be Kind: The Most Overlooked Driver of Success From Think Fast Talk Smart online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Be Kind: The Most Overlooked Driver of Success From Think Fast Talk Smart is an episode from TEDTalks Business by TED.

This episode is 22:59 long.

This episode was published on Feb 16, 2026.

Yes. Use the heart button on the episode page to add it to your favorite episodes list.

Yes. This page shows related episodes from TEDTalks Business when more episodes are available from the podcast feed.