Effective Workplace

Resolving to Give – How to Make Giving Back a Priority This Year

Looking back on this past year, there are certainly a few things I haven’t done that I wanted to accomplish — projects that got put on the backburner, to-do lists that were less than complete.

But in spite of a few mishaps, last year’s events will help me shape the present, and one of my main areas of focus is continuing to analyze what makes work environments great and how good companies grow and become world-class workplaces.

Since many CEOs and entrepreneurs are currently planning and organizing their team for 2018, it’s a great time to talk about a point that often takes a backseat when the going gets busy — giving back.

One of the best things any business owner can do to create a world-class workplace is give back and contribute to the community.

Whether your company is involved in charity and community service events already, there are always ways to build connection and extend your reach.

Find out what your team is passionate about and what matters most to them.

The people who make up your team have big, important, meaningful lives outside of the office. They have families, pets, and hobbies. They have ambitions and challenges.

Getting to know the people who make up your workplace is the first step in deciding what types of charitable events to support throughout the year, and what causes to put money, time, and energy toward.

Make giving an integral part of the culture by scheduling regular, repeated events and drives. It takes time to organize food drives, outings, and fundraisers.

So take this opportunity for planning and block out the time on your calendar now. Trust me, you’ll be too busy to do it when the time comes to make it happen, and you will have to deal with the “could’ve, should’ve, would’ve” when next December rolls around.

Delegate someone in charge to lead the efforts.

Once it’s on your yearly calendar, put someone in charge of making sure the events are planned in advance and promoted.

If you don’t have time to email everyone, reminding them about the community service event happening over the weekend, you need to make sure you delegate the task.

It’s important enough to be a small part of someone’s job description, because you’ve made contribution and giving back a priority in your culture.

With a leader in charge, you’re also more likely to get the whole team involved.

Get the word out.

It’s not boasting to talk about the causes you support. If you’ve done something to reach out to your community, why not tell people about it?

More opportunities for giving back will come your way once you’ve set your business up as a voice in your area. So blog about it, take photos, and interact with your community through social media and news.

Your team will love working at a company that makes giving a priority.

Charitable giving and contribution create meaningful places to work and build a great sense of pride.

A company that can listen to and understand the values and concerns of their team and turn that into something good for the community is a company that great people want to work for. Attracting great talent becomes an amazing byproduct of your giving efforts!

So let the word get out that giving back is a priority for your company in 2018. The universe has its way of responding and soon your company will be known to be on the road to world-class in the year ahead.

About the Author Michael Staskiewicz

Michael Staskiewicz, CCIM is the Managing Principal of Effective Realty Advisors and Founder of EffectiveWorkplace.com. Michael helps innovative, purpose-driven CEOs clarify the strategic plan for a world-class work environment, so they can attract the best talent and reduce voluntary turnover.

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2 comments
Bridget Tichar says December 28, 2017

This post made me think back to when I first learned the word, “Sonder,”: n. the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness—an epic story that continues invisibly around you.

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Dennis says January 4, 2018

Great article and reminder of the importance of giving back. Like the articles states it is so important to plan these events and put them on the calendar or they will get lost as we get busier with our work and lives. Giving back helps bring people together and strengthen the culture of your company. These type of charitable events helps to build your team. It shows how a little bit from each person can have a huge impact in the universe.

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