The idea of paying it forward has been on my mind this week, prompted by attending the 19th birthday celebration for global business giving movement B1G1.
azzur has been a member since 2013 and makes a donation for every person who completes leadership or team development with us. Our giving aids education (unsurprisingly), empowering women, providing basic human needs (shelter, water, etc.), and protecting the environment in less privileged communities around the world.
Business as a force for good and paying it forward are very much at heart.
So, I’ve been reflecting on the value of paying it forward as a way of being, in organisations and leadership.
Kindness, goodwill and selflessness are the energies at heart and, as we know, they can be transformative – signalling our care, building relationship and trust, fostering collaboration.
It is likely we have all been on the receiving end of someone acting with such goodwill, whether we are aware of it, see it that way, or not. Likewise, we are likely aware of what it might look like as the ‘payer’. And yet, it’s worth reminding ourselves so we can be more intentional…
- The giving of our full attention to others when they need it, even if it adds to our workload
- Sharing our knowledge and experience freely and unconditionally (territorialism and knowledge hoarding are no-no’s)
- Coaching and mentoring others to empower and enable rather than issuing instructions
- Opening doors to bigger opportunities for our colleagues even if it leaves a gap for us to fill
- Stepping in when we notice struggle and overwhelm
- Making introductions to those in our network who we know can help
It comes too, through referrals – something we have been gratefully on the end of – and in generously applauding others’ achievements, even if we might call them ‘competitors’. The generous spirit sees progress and standards raised for all rather than win/lose.
The thing is kindness and goodwill come without cost but are so needed if we are to build a better world. The more we pay it forward, consciously, the more impact these energies will have on that aspiration.
And, of course, you could join the B1G1 movement, led by amazing founder Masami Sato and the equally amazing Paul Dunn, and help in the inspiring ambition of growing from 400 million impacts to date, to 1 billion.