A Day for Giving Back

The holiday season is a perfect time for charitable works and giving.

I mean, somebody somewhere thought so and created this: #GivingTuesday

After a gluttonous holiday followed by things like Black Friday, Shop Local Saturday and Cyber Monday, isn’t a little giving back just what we need to set our minds right for the holidays ahead.

Yes.

And no.

Just like honoring your customers with a Customer Appreciation Week, a day of giving back is not nearly as effective as a year round mindset of giving back. A study reported by US News and World Report tells us that helping others makes us happy. That’s good for you, good for your company and good for your family.

Here’s how:

1. Survey your team (or your family). Find out what’s important to them.
2. Set aside a budget of time and money to dedicate to giving back.
3. Do the research to find effective ways to give and volunteer. I recommend starting with your local United Way. They can connect you with dozens of non-profit organizations who need help. I also recommend reading the book “When Helping Hurts:  How to Alleviate Poverty without Hurting the Poor…And Yourself.”  Because if you are setting out to help, you want it to really, you know, help.
4. Do the thing you decide on. Whether you choose to shop for a local food pantry because your family cares about hunger as an issue, or walk as a team in a local Relay for Life, because your company cares about people impacted by cancer, just do it.
5. Talk about your experiences afterward. Volunteering is much more impactful on you, your children, your employees, when you take the time to reflect on your experience.
6. Based on your experience, tweak your plan and go back to Step 1. Repeat annually.

The season of giving is a great time to get started.

Then just keep going.