To be better at improving people be a giver.

Research shows that when people give it inspires feelings of cooperation that promote assiduousness.

Our propensity to give extricates feelings of cynicism and selfishness. Creating a team of givers encourages commitment to make decisions for everyone’s benefit.

By creating a dynamic where people give more than they receive, takers are generally moved toward a spirit of giving. (This entire article is from chapter 5 in my book Anatomy of Success).

“To ease another’s heart ache is to forget one’s own” – Abraham Lincoln

Here are 9 advantages to encouraging people to embrace the benefits of giving:

Defuse 

It diffuses "takers" natural inclination to take. When this exercise is conducted in public, takers seem to relish the opportunity to demonstrate “kindness”.

Givers normally express more humility and naturally gravitate toward acts of kindness. This can stimulate a pattern of sharing that defuses a takers natural proclivities.

Teach

Provide takers with opportunities to give, initially predicated on external rewards such as promotion, accolades, etc. 

Eventually, takers start to perceive themselves as givers and begin internalizing the positive feelings associated with giving.

Everybody wins

We’ve been conditioned to believe that good negotiators are tough and seek self-interest at the expense of others. We seldom celebrate negotiators that carefully contemplate other people’s best interest, while achieving individual success. It’s possible, and truly benefits both parties.

These arrangements lead to longevity and a sense of mutual satisfaction. Something we affectionately call “good relationships”. 

“No one has ever become poor by giving” – Anne Frank

Not just at home

Many people restrict giving to their personal lives and neglect to extend generosity at work. Considering we spend most of our lives at work, creating an atmosphere of generosity in the office enhances our prospects for happiness.

This attitude permeates from effective leaders that recognize their ability to influence a sense of synergy at work that promotes reassurance, safety and significance. Leaders must make wellbeing of their employees top priority or this dynamic will never flourish.

It takes work

Leaders must be truly inspired to create an atmosphere where people excel, and their intrinsic needs are satisfied. Unfortunately, 80% of all workers dislike their jobs.

This statistic reveals leadership deficiencies.

You would think in our modern world where technology and innovation are prevalent, that organizations would be committed to inspiring their staff. However, successful companies with healthy work environments remain the minority.

Wrong motivation

Many “leaders” are consumed with accolades that coincide with professional success. Their primary motivation is to solidify their legacy and extract massive salaries at the expense of providing the guidance employees desire.

Successful leaders realize that remarkable employees make the organization great, not the geniuses at the top.

The future

I encourage young entrepreneurs to focus on building organizations that place top priority on taking care of people.

When people feel safe and genuinely appreciated, they extend approbations to one another. A climate of belonging is imperative to create value and rewards that extend beyond extrinsic compensation.

Empowering people to make decisions and accept mistakes is critical to ensuring energy is focused on dangers “outside” the organization. Too many businesses have people focused on self-preservation based on a culture of competition and hierarchy.

What it takes

Trust and empathy extending from leadership, and its paramount to establishing a work environment that prevents individuals from pursuing personal achievement at the expense of team success.

When people inside the group truly believe others have their best interest at heart, a climate rich in support, communication and productivity organically evolves.

Effective leadership requires isolating the group from a propensity to espouse individual ambitions, which creates a vacuum where productivity suffers.

The benefits

Happiness and job satisfaction are contingent upon the ability to make decisions and possess a sense of control over our work environment. It’s the antidote for better health and less anxiety.

Studies have discovered that weak leadership is the catalyst for high levels of stress on the job, and adversely affects job performance.

Recognition and appreciation have incredible influence over a person’s perception of job satisfaction. Effective leaders develop rewards that inspire balance with job responsibilities. 

Often when companies are confronted with outside danger, employees feel pressure to respond with urgent solutions inspired by ineffective leadership. Strong leaders create a sense of ownership that compels team members to develop solutions that benefit the group and promote success.

“You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving” – Amy Carmichael

Sum it up

Share with me your thoughts on the power of giving at work in the comments section. Please like and share this article. I love learning from you as well.

About Steve:

Steve Wohlenhaus is CEO of Weatherology, the leading company in the world at disseminating audio weather information.  Steve began his career as a major market television weather anchor in Minneapolis, where he received several Emmy Awards for science programming. Steve is an author and host of the podcast program Anatomy of Success. Reach out and connect with me on LinkedIn!