Facilitating goodwill in workplace relationships: the benefits and challenges

According to the philosopher Kant (1788/2014) the only thing that is good without qualification is “goodwill.” This column discusses the notion of goodwill in the context of contemporary workplaces, including mental health nursing settings. Questions that are considered include, what is goodwill? Why do we need goodwill and how can it be maintained in the workplace? Reflecting on the answers to such questions is important in light of the outcomes that can be achieved when goodwill is fostered by managers, and consistently practised by all team members in occupational environments.