I don’t know how many of you follow Fast Company magazine. If you don’t and you are into innovation and progressive thinking you might want to! Anyway, today has been renamed Generosity Day (see article for more info. http://www.fastcompany.com/1727145/re-booting-valentine-s-day-for-good?partner=homepage_newsletter). One of the questions posed in the article is this…”What’s the business case for generosity?” What a great question!
It got me thinking about leadership generosity. How generous a leader are you? How often do you let others take the credit, even if it started out as your idea/concept? When was the last time you promoted the ideas and/or talents of someone on your team to another person…just because? When was the last time you encouraged one of your team to challenge themselves to a higher level, even if that might mean he/she moves on from your department or company?
What is the business case for generosity? In putting this question out to some of the leaders I have had the pleasure of working with I got some great real-life responses.
• “People see the generosity and they seem to work harder for me.”
• “One top manager did end up leaving the department, however she recruited her own replacement who is equally as talented…she wanted a certain standard of replacement before she left!”
• “One of my team members opened up about goals he had (a risky move for him as he wasn’t sure the company could provide him with the experience he was looking for). We were able to find ways to incorporate more of the training/experience he was seeking into his current role, instead of losing him because I was afraid to have the discussion, I actually gained far more than I ever could have imagined.”
• “I have witnessed our managers passing the generosity on to their team members…it has become the norm in our company, rather than the exception…the ripple effect is awe inspiring!
So I ask you, what is the business case for generosity? How do/can you see it playing out in your role? How might it change the way you work/think?

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Contributed by: Heather Clarke

Heather is a passionate entrepreneur who believes whole-heartedly that nurturing the human spirit makes good business and social sense. Her sole mission in life is to inspire people to achieve their personal and professional best…to DREAM BIG. Since 1999, Heather has worked as an Executive Coach, Team Coach and Business Consultant with CEO’s and senior executives of both large and small organizations to help them create vision-based cultures that inspire employees to bring their passion and commitment to work every day. Her management experience in both the private and non-profit sectors includes a vast knowledge in the areas of Visioning, Change Management, Succession Planning, Leadership Development, Team Building, Communications, and Performance Management. In 2001 Heather saw the need to create a training company that catered to individuals who were experiencing Career Transition challenges. She, along with a stellar team of professional trainers, have assisted hundred of individuals discover their strengths and passions and move on to very satisfying new careers. Heather is a strong believer in life-long learning and continually strives for personal and professional excellence. She has completed training in the following professional coaching programs: Organization and Relationship Systems Coaching, Centre for Right Relationship; and Co-Active Coaching, Coaches Training Institute. Heather is also a certified facilitator of the following professional development tools: 360Reach, The Leadership Circle 360⁰ Profile, The Leadership Culture Survey, Team Diagnostic™ Tool and TRAFFIC™-Managing Communication. Heather is passionate about her family and when she is not working she can be found communing with nature in her kayak!