Give More Than You Take

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People are looking for other people who care. If you care about other people, you are a change agent. You are a giver, not a taker.

Givers give to others. Takers take from others. Givers are in it for others. Takers are in it for themselves.

Let me tell you something: If you want to live a meaningful life, it is better to be a giver than a taker.

Because, according to Paul Polman and Andrew Winston, ‘Transformative leadership requires broad partnerships.’

‘Cultivate a sense of responsibility and duty to serve the world, and encourage people to bring their values to work.’

‘Help people in the business find what they do uniquely for the world (their purpose).’

‘Embrace empathy, compassion, and humility, and openly seek help and partnership from others.’

‘Reward courage, speak truth to power, and do what’s right for even if there are costs.’

Look forward to understand how the world’s needs will evolve and where the company’s purpose can best serve the world.’

‘Remove rigid constraints on what the company can work on, and give people space to think big, work for the long-term, and invest in the future.’

‘Work with society by proactively inviting them in instead of waiting for them to bang on- or knock down- the door.’

‘Worry less about who gets the credit, or how to compete on issues, and focus on broader solutions.’

‘Lead the work on the biggest, most complex shared problems.’

‘Listen to smart critics to undertand systemic challenges and hurdles.’

Source:

Paul Polman and Andrew Winston (2021). Net Positive: How Courageous Companies Thrive by Giving More Than They Take

The Power Of Personal Connection

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When you connect with other people, your world gets bigger. If you want to do well in your life, connect with other people.

But to do that, according to Tom Gartland, ‘Connect with your heart, so that you can connect with the hearts of others.’

We cannot win by ourselves. Everyone owns it. And we all need each other.’

As a leader, you cannot truly connect by staying in your ivory tower. And the only way to connect is in person. And you can only do that one person at a time.’

‘You can train all you want, but if it does not come from the heart, it will not connect.’

We need to see beyond ourselves.’

Seeing the potential in people takes time, a shift in focus, practice, and care. It takes getting close to those around you.’

Leading is not about right now. Leading is about seeing the future in others.’

Treat people well and it will come back to you in spades.’

Truly connecting with those around you means being honest– about them and about how they are fitting (or not) into the organization as it (and they) move forward.’

Leading is about opening ourselves, and those around us, up to new possibilities.’

Source:

Tom Gartland and Patrick Sweeney (2018). Lead With Heart: Transform Your Business Through Personal Connection