As we approach the holiday season, the concept of “Paying It Forward” often comes to mind. As a father of four young boys who have been blessed in so many ways, it serves as a great opportunity for parents like myself to discuss the ripple effect that helping others can have on society during the season of giving.
Having served on many community boards throughout my career, including the Parish Council of our local church, I’m often reminded of the importance of giving your “time, talent and treasure” back to the community. To this day, many of my proudest achievements and closest personal relationships have come from my experiences serving others (and encouraging friends and co-workers to do the same).
I recently heard an interview with Carol Burnett where she discussed how her Emmy-winning career was launched through the generosity of a local benefactor who paid for the aspiring local comedienne’s move to New York City. He followed her quick rise to fame from a distance and wanted no public recognition for what he did; he simply asked that she perform a similar act of generosity when in a position to do so (which she subsequently did, many times over, in his honor).
As business leaders, we are uniquely positioned “Pay It Forward” on a daily basis (often without realizing it). Simple things like providing constructive feedback, serving as a mentor, inviting someone to lunch or taking extra time to answer questions or share insights are all very powerful tools in building trust with your team and cultivating a high performance, values-based culture. These gestures require minimal investments in time and money, but their impact is significant: by setting an example as a leader (whether it’s spoken or unspoken), you’re encouraging everyone you touch to “Pay It Forward” when in a position to do so with a friend or colleague. People at all levels of an organization can buy a co-worker lunch, take someone under their wing or simply say “thank you” for a job well done, and so on and so on and so on…
As a business leader, I can think of no more powerful a tool (and reward) than the ability to “Pay It Forward” on a daily basis. In that regard, it’s always the season of giving.
Please share any comments, feedback or examples of how you’ve “Paid It Forward” within your organization.