Having team members who don’t freely and generously share what they know is a challenge most teams face. And yet, a team can’t afford not to share their thoughts, ideas and experience. Sometimes people don’t make the link between lack of generosity and not getting as good a result as they could have. And yet, the link is real. Workplaces need to be generous places.

As a leader, you can show the way for what generosity means and what it creates. Generosity starts with you.

Fearlessly share what you know, your wisdom and insights, and your experience (without thinking that your perspective is the complete or correct answer). Be a generous leader.

Here are FIVE specific generosity recommendations to consider.

Be generous with your time. Spend time with people on a regular basis. Emails can wait. And be 100% present. When you’re with someone – in real life or remotely – show them that they have your full attention and that you value them enough to not let yourself be distracted by buzzing phones or pinging messages and emails.

 

Keep an open mind. Be generous with your genuine consideration of the ideas and perspectives of others. Listen with curiosity. Consider ideas and opinions – don’t be too quick to judge.

 

Be generous with your knowledge. Share freely what you know. But only if people are open to it and are open to listening. One way of doing that is to make sure you share it as a suggestion, not the only answer.

 

Be generous with your gratitude and care. Praise and thank ppeople;recognise them publicly if relevant. Cheer someone on for their effort, dedication, creativity and results. We have the power to increase the number of positive messages around uus,and that creates a ripple effect. We need it in these disruptive and uncertain times.

Show people you care about them. Be a leader who likes people.

 

Be generous with your honesty and feedback. Kind honesty is sharing your observations on what someone is doing very well (so they can do more of it) and also what they could do more effectively (where they’re not having the impact they want or need). Feedforward is caring enough to be honest – always in a supportive way that makes the person feel you always have their best interest in mind.

Generosity breeds generosity. It starts with you.