The new disruption — Generosity of Soul.
A sacred virtue of human leadership.
Most people want to find meaning in their jobs – they want to feel that they are a part of something bigger and something better. They want to know that what they do matters. This desire is not only evident within our SOULWORX team, it is just as much present in every organization we have thus far accompanied on their quest and desire to manifest a purpose-driven and future-relevant organization.
Any leader with a generous heart and spirit understands this need, and connects the dots for people – the dots that help individuals see how the work they perform, no matter how small it may be in the scheme of things, has a bearing on the ultimate purpose of the organization.
When we think of generosity, our thoughts usually drift to material gifts, or gifts of money or charity. In the context of leadership, there are other gifts that don’t have a monetary value, but whose value is beyond price. These include giving someone a chance; giving someone the benefit of the doubt; and giving others a reason to want to work with you. It entails giving others latitude, permission to make mistakes, and all the information and education that they need to play out their role. It’s giving them the authority that goes with responsibility, the freedom that goes with self-determination – it’s giving them due credit for their ideas. In a nutshell: generosity of soul.
If you look up the word ‘generosity’, you will find the definition ‘of noble birth,’ and used to be associated with members of the aristocracy who, by virtue of their privileges, were expected to show generosity towards those in lesser standing. A leader too, by virtue of her position, and the power and privileges that she holds relative to those she leads, has the same expectations and obligations. A prime obligation is to lead with a generous heart, and to be guided by nobility of mind.
In the past weeks, I have been meditating on generosity and my own generosity and equally in my last Working-Out-Loud Circle – a method created by John Stepper as a means to build relationships to help you in some way, like achieving a goal, developing a skill, or exploring a new topic – we discussed the effects of acts of kindness. So what is the ultimate level of generosity? Should we set boundaries to our generosity? Are we really able to give unconditionally, particularly in the context of work? Does work and the future of work ask of us to be more generous in how we engage with others in order to create and build a better, more desirable and meaningful shared future?
I say: Absolutely! Particularly in the highly stressed need to put ‘purpose’ back into organizations.
As organizations navigate transformation, their success will not be in simply creating digital products and services. Equally they will not come out future-proof, if they solely look towards efficiency gain and innovation through the lens of automation and Artificial Intelligence. I believe they will then be successful, if they look to change their leadership system. I.e. leadership culture. Placing emphasis on changing how we behave and interact, how we relate and bring ourselves to the workplace, giving space for each one of us to unlock our highest potential.
Unfortunately though – at least in my observations –we hinder the full virtue of generosity through clinging on to aspects such as self-absorption, holding on to power and control, fearing rejection or ridicule, if not failure, or worst fearing being emotionally, physically and/or mentally abused. Hence we hold back. We don’t provide ourselves to the benefit of others. We stay locked in and the virtue of generosity remains dormant.
Yet, it is generous leaders who make their work more than a job. They really do care about others, foster relationships, and work side-by-side with their peers, rather than over top of them, making both their life’s work and that of their colleagues more valuable and fulfilling. They care and therefore they share, without fear, jealousy or the desire for power and self-absorption. Generous leaders remember our mutual humanity, and choose to personalize the mundane aspects of our life to create opportunities for connection.
And while generosity in its pure sense is altruistic, we do get something back from it, like a surplus of cooperation, the recycling of goodwill, and the beautiful satisfaction of seeing another benefit from giving oneself, ones time, ones attention, ones knowledge, and the very best that we have to offer.
If we can’t be there for one another or count on others to be there for us, is any of the rest worth it in the end?
Let’s start to disrupt the world of work, not just through innovation and technology, but simply through the virtue of generosity.
Give opportunity. One of the most valuable gifts we can give someone is giving them a chance. Who can I right now give a second chance to prove themselves? What active steps can I take to create the right circumstances for them to succeed?
Give people a sense of importance. Let’s consider intentional small actions to make people feel that the work they do is important, and that they themselves, as people, are important to our team.
Give encouragement. Let’s look around and pick someone who needs encouragement, and resolve to give them that. Some people have never received encouragement in their life — not from teachers, not from bosses, not even from parents, so let’s give them just that.
Always give feedback, not criticism. Let’s pick a right moment. Honor the other person and provide ourselves authentically.
Give people visibility. Let’s give someone else visibility as a special gift to help others shine and grow.
Share your knowledge and experience. Become a giver of know-how. What knowledge, expertise, or best practices can I share with others as a way to enrich and help them forward?
Give moral support. Let’s next time give an apprehensive team member, all the moral support they need with whatever challenge or task they are facing.
Know when to forgive. Let’s consider how having spiteful thoughts, even though so compelling at times, is nothing but violence to oneself. A characteristic of a generous person is a total lack of resentment.
Give anonymously. Real generosity of soul is doing something for someone without their knowledge. Let’s think of one or two deserving people we can help by planting a work-enhancing seed.
If we all carried the generosity of soul we would certainly make the workplace a more desirable place to be and equally we would fill ourselves with more joy, fulfillment and meaning. Go ahead try yourself and act with a generous heart and spirit.
