by Richard Fisher, Managing Partner
So, if you are working with a fantastically hardworking well motivated group of professionals in the midst of a global pandemic, just how do you motivate them still further?
The response to the virus has taught many of us to look at life differently. We have clapped for our NHS workers bravely working on front lines in the midst of our community. We have made sacrifices for the sake of people we have never met and probably never will. The greater good seems a worthy objective and our own individual hopes and desires of lesser importance.
With that in mind we decided to include in this year’s staff reward scheme an opportunity not just to benefit ourselves but the chance to benefit those we care about. In addition to the reward earned personally by a staff member that person gets to choose a charity that means something special to them to also share in the rewards on offer. It has been an uplifting and inspiring endeavour.
What are the benefits?
GIVING TO CHARITY FEELS GREAT
Who doesn’t like helping others? There’s really no bad side to this? A 2008 study by Harvard Business School professor Michael Norton and colleagues found that giving money to someone else lifted participants’ happiness more than spending it on themselves (despite participants’ prediction that spending on themselves would make them happier).
WE LEARN MORE ABOUT ONE ANOTHER
Learning stories that go alongside each gift helps us to know and understand our “work family” just that little bit better. And taking the time to find out more about one another and having that closeness to one’s colleagues is what helps turn a firm from a work place to a second home and colleagues into a second family.
GIVING IS MORE IMPACTFUL THAN EVER
Charities’ source of income are more hard pressed than ever so finding new and imaginative ways to help them earn the money they need to help others is all the more important.
And, finally:-
GIVING TO CHARITY ENCOURAGES OTHERS TO DO THE SAME
Hopefully anyone reading this might feel the same! Let us know if you try something similar.
___________________
UPDATED on 6 May 2021 to show the 32 organisations we have supported with over £5,500 in total donations:-
Our corporate charity of the year is St Michael's Hospice serving Rother and Hastings. If you would like to contribute to our fundraising for them you can do so using our Just Giving link here. Thank you.