The holidays are a time when we often find ourselves reflecting on two major aspects of our lives – what we’ve accomplished personally and professionally over the past year, as well as endeavors and goals for the future. These are two of the pieces that define who we are, and the closing of one chapter and beginning of another inevitably leads us to consider where we are, and where we want to be. For me, I make an effort at the end of each year to reevaluate my time and commitments, identifying ways that I can become a more generous and giving person in the year to come. Here’s what I’ve learned about fostering gratitude and generosity.
Giving in your Work
I have the incredible opportunity to not only work alongside my parents, but work toward the goal of giving every student the best education possible. This is the gift that keeps on giving and one that I get to spend each day of the year trying to achieve. Finding a way to work and fulfill a passion to help others and make a difference in the world is something I feel so fortunate to find and have – but I understand that not everyone’s career path easily lends itself to the same. I encourage you to assess what parts of your job motivate you to give 100% and make you feel good about the service you provide, and then consider how you can make it an even larger part of your role and responsibility.
Giving at Work
Giving to others provides a strong sense of happiness and community when we make the time to do it. Many companies, in fact, build giving initiatives into their company culture by promoting strong Corporate and Social Responsibility (CSR) practices. These initiatives bring a positive impact to the community, as well as help to foster a sense of teamwork and togetherness among a company’s employees. At Huntington Learning Center, we partner with the Coalition for the Homeless every back-to-school season to collect thousands of school supplies to help make every student’s return to school a little bit easier. We build these initiatives into our corporate calendars throughout the year, and we encourage our 300+ franchisees to do the same in their own communities. Creating a schedule and providing structure for people to give and share their talents and passions helps your team follow through on your goals for helping the community.
Giving to Your Team
Day in and day out our teams come together and work hard to achieve the goals and benchmarks that we give them and set together. It is important to remember their needs and motivations, and to reward and acknowledge their efforts whenever possible. Take the time to reflect on how your team has gone above and beyond and recognize that – maybe it’s a simple email to staff, a lunch outing or a gesture that shows you appreciate them. Even small acknowledgements can go a long way.