#givingback #payingforward #leadership #truegiving
This week the www.projectmanagement.com page is headlining articles on giving back. This made me remember a big lesson I learned in live. There was a time when I went through real hardships. I had lost my job due to my Ex-Husband trying to take revenge and having found a way to influence the HR Manager in the company I used to work for. He had also made my file in Immigration “disappear” and I was really at rock bottom. No hope nowhere to go and frustrated endlessly. But I kept on running with my running buddies. One day one of them asked me to come to his office the next day. Unbeknown to me he had been told by another friend about my situation. So when I got to his office he asked me first how I am surviving. I didn’t want him to know that I had no money at all, I had actually just walked about 7km to get to his office. He gave me a good amount of money and apologized for not having more, then he told me to come back a week later for the second amount. I was totally overwhelmed with such caring. Then we talked a while and he offered me help to sort out my issue in immigration. Meanwhile another running buddy linked me up with his wife and I got a job.
Both asked me only for one thing in return: Pay forward! When you are back on your feet make sure you help someone else in need!
Change your Attitude
I think this is an attitude we all need to take on.
When you see someone in need, give them an unexpected gift for which you expect nothing in return. Giving a helping hand to someone who is at rock bottom and needs real help is what can give them the boost they need to get back on their feet.
Giving back and paying forward can have many faces:
- Help someone with practical things, or money
- Give true advise
- Introduce someone to the right connection that can help them
- Mentorship or Coaching
- The gift of time: Take time to truly listen to someone who is down and under, can give them the encouragement they need to continue with life and not give up
True leadership is about giving people a helping hand and guiding them on the way. Not telling them what to do, but helping them sort their thoughts and come up with their own ideas.
How can you help someone today?