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ATD Blog

10 Ways Ground Floor Leaders Give Back to Others

Wednesday, August 19, 2015
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We are naturally self-centered individuals. Throughout our careers, we are always looking for the next thing we can do to develop our skill set, get that next promotion, and move forward in achieving our career goals. Constantly focused on our own agenda, we often fail to remember that we didn’t get to where we are today without the help of others along the way.

A teacher, mentor, colleague, supervisor, family member, or close friend can have a profound impact on someone’s professional life. Whether it is a casual meeting over coffee, a memorable piece of advice, or an introduction that leads to a job offer, the people around us often have a great influence on our success.

When it comes to these relationships, there are two types of people involved:

  • Givers—people who understand that you must give first in order to receive.

  • Takers—people who feel entitled to take what others give them and use it to their own benefit, with no regard to “thank you” gestures or returning the favor.

Are you a giver or a taker?
There are certain people who have an exceptional mindset when it comes to interacting with others in the workplace. They understand that if they can give back to others more than they they receive, they can become catalysts of change and multipliers of knowledge, improving the overall human performance of the organization. These individuals are called ground floor leaders.

Would you like to be a ground floor leader? If you put in the time, energy, and passion into the people around you, the return on investment will be maximized in more ways than you can imagine.

#1: Say Thank You

It sounds so simple, but it’s surprising how often these two words get left out of conversations. People want to know that their work is appreciated and that they are valued. But don’t just stop at saying thank you; make sure people know how much their work means to the organization and you personally.

#2: Give Credit Away

Too often people are concerned with getting the credit for themselves and what they have done. This happens so much that sometimes additional contributions don’t get recognized. If you collaborated on a project with a group of employees, make sure others know how much they contributed to make the final product a success. Take the spotlight off yourself and shine it on others.

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#3: Offer Your Time

It’s amazing what an offer can do to someone’s spirits, especially to someone who is struggling with a project or assignment. Simply saying something like “I’d be happy to sit down with you sometime and share more about how I overcame the same obstacle you are dealing with,” can have a great impact on an employee’s performance and stress levels.

#4: Make People a Priority

You have two choices when you come into work each day. You can either focus on your own agenda, or you can be intentional about building relationships with others. If you connect with people, you increase your chances of producing great results that make an impact. As the old saying goes, “Two heads are better than one.”

#5: Be an Encourager

How does it make you feel when someone remembers something going on in your life (personal or professional) and is there to encourage you? Makes you feel powerful, doesn’t it? Whether it’s a big presentation or a tough conversation, try to remember other things people are up to and follow up to encourage them or congratulate them on a job well done.

#6: Appreciate One Thing About Everyone

Everyone has a skill and something to bring to the table. Everyone’s level of contribution may be different, but everyone’s ability to contribute is on an equal level. Naturally, there will be people whom you may not enjoy being around, but if you can find one thing that someone does well, and make sure you praise them for it, your kindness will be forever appreciated.

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#7: Be a Teacher

Everyone has the ability to teach a skill to someone else. If you can be intentional about offering to teach a co-worker a skill, you are not only giving that person the opportunity to grow, but you are giving yourself the chance to develop as well.

#8: Be an Active Listener

Sometimes people don’t need anything tangible to be successful. All they need is someone to be an active listener and an outlet with whom to share thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Listening to someone can be a powerful way of connecting with others and showing that you care.

#9: Give Up Your Knowledge

We all want to be known for being able to do something great. But just because we have a unique skill set does not mean we need to keep it to ourselves. Share as much of the knowledge you have with those around you to multiply your intelligence and bring out the best in those around you.

#10: Skip a Meeting

Although this may seem counterintuitive, skipping an unnecessary meeting every once and a while opens your schedule and makes you more available to help those around you. Take a look at your schedule and see if there is a meeting you can miss so that you can use that time to make an impact.

The key to remember is this: If you can change your mindset to focus on how much you can give instead of how much you can receive, you will make a difference in the lives of those around you and will be a more respected professional in the workplace. If you can encourage your peers and employees to do the same, together we can all change the way people work together! 

So, are you a giver or a taker? In the Comments, please share how you give back to your teams.

About the Author

Dan Schwartz is an HR communications manager with BKD CPAs and Advisors. In his role, Dan is focused on executing communication initiatives for BKD to support the firm’s culture and communicate the Employee Value Proposition (EVP). He is responsible for developing, writing and overseeing the release of internal and external communication documents and programs that promote the firm's key people initiatives. Dan has published articles, books, videos, and podcasts related to career development and leadership development. He is the author of TD at Work: Managing as a Ground Floor Leader, Winning Strategies: Achieving Success in the Classroom, Career and Life and is a contributing author to Find Your Fit: A Practical Guide to Landing a Job You'll Love.

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