Mike, I like how you put the word 'soft' in inverted commas.   Many (of the old school) would say that kindness, love and caring for others is the soft stuff that we don't need to bother with at work, but I reckon it's the hard stuff.  It's hard to remember daily that it is others who matter if our workplaces are to be more humane.  It's hard to develop this capability in folks who haven't had the benefit of good empathic caring in their early years.  It's hard to put aside our egos when they get damaged by things others say and do and to see their real (good) intent behind such actions.  And this hard stuff is the stuff that will really make a quantum difference to how people feel about their working lives.

Great post!
Warmly,
John