Let’s take this idea and channel it back to your teams.
In Psychology Today, Brett Steenbarger writes, “In
the course of helping teams achieve peak performance, I've noticed an
interesting phenomenon. Leaders who
have given the most of themselves to their teams have received the most from
members in terms of performance and effort. Mutual giving brings a
higher level of engagement and learning, which means that giving yields an
exponential degree of receiving. There is a powerful psychological principle at
work here that underlies the psychology of giving. When we experience ourselves
as givers, we receive a deep and enduring affirmation of our value to others.
In transcending the self, we obtain the most profound experience of self…
This makes sense if we think of our daily activities as a form of
exercise. Each undertaking exercises one or more character traits--for the
better or for the worse. In the spirit of "use it or lose it", we
build the traits that we exercise and express. When we fail to actualize
traits, these atrophy. Over time, that means we can become more or less
giving, more or less loving, more or less engaged with the well-being of
others. Our daily activities in the gymnasium of life can strengthen our
best inclinations or our worst ones. Unwittingly, when we set our daily
calendar, we lay a blueprint for our development. What we do shapes
who we become. When we give and give and give, we experience ourselves as
special. In receiving those loving looks and paws on the face, we in turn
find the muscles of generosity strengthened, allowing us to engage the rest of
life with our best inclinations.:” Do you give enough of yourself back to
your team?
Those who have acquired great wealth sometimes feel a sense
of emptiness. One of the most well-known givers Mahatma Ghandi
said: “The
best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
Of
all the methods for increasing employee
engagement preached about from business coaches nationwide,
workplace philanthropy is possibly the least common. But it shouldn’t be.
According to the 2011
Deloitte Volunteer IMPACT Survey of employed adults ages 21-35,
millennials who frequently participate in workplace volunteer activities are
nearly TWICE as likely to be very satisfied with the progression of their
career. In a report from Network
for Good, “Employee engagement through cause is a vital means by
which to strengthen employee relationships, enhance employee morale and even
build critical skill sets and expertise. Plus, employees are hungry for ways to
get involved in cause.” And guess what, there are more people/projects in
need than we have “givers”. Do you make community involvement part of
your team’s annual work?
Sometimes,
it seems like the spirit of the holiday season is lost on us. At work, we
don’t give thanks nearly enough: Some 79% of
employees quit because
they didn’t feel appreciated. Think about that 4 out of 5. And just
as everyone took George Bailey for granted in the holiday classic It’s a
Wonderful Life, we often fail to give thanks to those that we lean
on every day in the workplace (and at home for that matter). Do you take
the time to say thank you every day? Do you write simple notes that are
specific and heartfelt?
In a gratitude
survey of 2,000
Americans by the John Templeton Foundation, 81% percent of respondents said
that they’d be willing to work harder for an appreciative boss, and 70% said
they’d feel better about themselves and their efforts if their boss thanked
them more regularly. Only 10% of survey respondents said that they regularly
showed their colleagues gratitude. This is an inexpensive fix – it is FREE.
During a time
where the end of the year is fast approaching, employees
rush to get projects completed, and planning for next year has already
begun, it's important to take a step back and give thanks to your team. “Thanks” is more about the act of noticing
and caring, then about the gift.
Sometimes, in the excitement and stress of the holiday
season, we forget the “give” in giving thanks. Our teams are busy, year-end
projects getting finished, holiday stress, less work days. Take a moment
this holiday season to add some extra “thanks” in your days. Also, doing
work for a charity or nonprofit can do wonders for the community, while getting
your team away from their desks. It also can put everyone in a better
place knowing that they made a difference - when we experience ourselves as
givers, we receive a deep and enduring affirmation of our value to
others. What a nice way to live.
Together.
We. Win.
Dave Harmon
People Division
“Kindness is Currency”
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/davidharmonhr
Look for us on: LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, The Muse, Glassdoor and USA TODAY NETWORK Careers
People Division
“Kindness is Currency”
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/davidharmonhr
Look for us on: LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, The Muse, Glassdoor and USA TODAY NETWORK Careers
