Bruna Martinuzzi’s article Degrees of
Giving: Leading with Generosity, points out the huge importance of having a
spirit of generosity in a leadership role. Here is a summary of some of the
ideas addressed.
In a position of leadership, and
considering the power and privilege that comes with that position, one has
certain expectations and obligations to fulfil. Namely, to show generosity of
spirit to those whom one is leading. Leading generously does not necessarily
mean giving a monetary or charity gift. The gifts you can offer as a leader are
priceless and have lasting effects.
As a leader you can:
-
Give People a Sense of
Importance.
Help your team
see that the work they perform is important and has a bearing on the ultimate
vision of the organisation.
-
Give Opportunity
Delegate not
just the routine jobs, but worthwhile work. Let your team know you trust them
to do a good job. This work becomes a gift of development and growth for the
person you assign it to.
-
Give People Visibility
Make sure credit
is given where credit’s due. Ensure where possible, that your team gets
individual recognition from their superiors. Knowledge that you are
representing your team well to upper management is a great motivator for
everyone and engenders loyalty.
-
Give Information
According to a
1000 Ventures survey on effective motivation, one of the top items individuals
want in the workplace is the ability to be “in” on things. The employees rated
this 9 on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest. Managers ranked this
item as a 1. This is a huge chasm in understanding.
Be generous with
ideas and expertise. This is not just beneficial for the individual- it’s a
smart way of doing business,
-
Give Encouragement
Be generous with
your praise when a good job has been done, and generous with your understanding
when someone’s having a hard time with a task. Show not just an appreciation
for good work but a genuine admiration for their talents.
Hand in hand with all of these things you should also remember to:
-
Be Engaged
In today’s
society it is so easy to become self involved and exclude others without even
meaning to. This self absorption automatically prevents a generous spirit from
flourishing. There is an African village where the greeting words for ‘good
morning’ or ‘hello’ are: “I am here if
you are here”. Imagine how much easier it would be to give if we were fully
present with people. Perhaps this is what Ralph Waldo Emerson meant when he
said: “The only gift is the gift of thyself”.
Although generosity is, in its purest form,
altruistic, you do still get something back from it. Whether it be the return
of goodwill from someone who has previously benefited from your generosity, or
just the immense satisfaction of seeing someone gain something precious as a
result of your giving.
Finally, take inspiration from the words of
Walt Whitman- “The habit of giving enhances the desire to give”. The more you
make a habit out of giving, the more generous your spirit will become, seeing you
emerge as a stronger leader.
Labels: Empathy, Fairness, Wendy Lee
