How to Lead with Generosity

Generosity creates a ripple effect!

Earlier this week, one of my clients showed wonderful generosity by gifting me second-row floor tickets to a basketball game in celebration of my son’s 16th birthday.

The Raptors were playing the Bucks, so it was an epic game.

Talk about a bucket list moment! Sitting that close to the action was unreal, and I felt so grateful for the experience.

But here’s where it got even better.

For the final quarter, I gave my seat to my friend’s son, who is a die-hard Giannis Antetokounmpo fan. He moved from the third row in the back to the second row from the front!!

Watching his face light up as he sat in his new seat was magical.

It reminded me that generosity doesn’t just stop at one person; rather, it can inspire us to pass it on.

This experience made me think about the importance of leading with generosity.

Let’s face it: great leadership is not about wielding authority or hoarding the credit.

Rather, it’s about giving.

It’s about giving your time and your attention and sharing your knowledge.

When you lead with generosity, you get better results.

You are able to build a high-trust team that is motivated to work with you, not for you!

So, how can you, as a leader, be more generous?

Here are three ways to lead with generosity:

• Be Generous with Your Time. While your schedule is likely packed, prioritizing your team is still critically important. Book those weekly team meetings, and don’t cancel them. Be available to coach and develop your people. This is how you will create a high-performing team.
• Share your Knowledge Freely. When you generously share what you know, you’re not just building a smarter team, you are creating a culture of growth and collaboration. Take the time to teach what you have learned over the years. Offer feedback in real time. Encourage questions in all your team and one-on-one meetings.
• Give Credit Where Credit is Due. Don’t be the kind of leader who takes credit for other people’s ideas. Rather, recognize people’s contributions whether they are big or small. A little recognition goes a long way. It boosts morale and builds loyalty really quickly.

Being generous is a powerful way to live your life and to lead at work.

It creates connections, inspires others, and reminds us of the joy that comes from giving.

When you lead with generosity, you, too, will create a ripple effect that transforms your team and workplace culture.

So, how can you be more generous with your time, knowledge, or recognition?

At the end of the day, true leadership isn’t about what you get… it’s about what you give!