And How That Translates To Being an Effective Employee And Future Leader.
In a world consumed by selfies and "Treat Yo' Self" ing, it can be somewhat ironic when people proclaim their strong opinions via Social Media.
"HOW CAN YOU NOT CARE ABOUT (insert daily rant)."
But to be perfectly honest, while I applaud that you have emotions about whatever current event is on the news and writing a novel about it on Facebook, what are you actually doing about it? Serious issues hit the media at a faster rate than ever before, and with our society's case of ADD, these issues come and go even faster.
Even worse, our inability to communicate with one another about these issues forces a far deeper problem; that with a rise in people simply communicating via Internet, we are incapable of communicating in person, and that will impact the way we represent ourselves, especially in the workforce.
On top of all of this, as technology drives us farther away, we're losing that sense of community that once upon a time people used to SURVIVE. Everyone hashtags their #TRIBES these days, but if we don't start helping our larger TRIBE, this country (and world) is set for a dark path.
So here is my goal for you: give back in some way at least once a month. That's a small contribution that anyone can easily attain. This can be anything from going to your local shelter (human or furry) to helping kids with their college transcripts, or maybe even just joining a board to begin having conversations about an issue in your community. Most importantly, just find the issue you're passionate about, and DIVE IN. Once a month or once a week, giving back is the connection we're all missing. I think most people today sit at home and wonder why the world is going to shit, and I truly believe it's the fact that our connections have deteriorated to a scary low.
Now how does giving back translate to your work ethic and future leader skills? Here's my personal inspiration:
My father is a successful cardiac surgeon. He invented a non-invasive stent so that doctors no longer need to open up your chest cavity. This used to be a somewhat risky procedure, and a lengthy one for you to spend in the hospital. With a stent, no major surgery and only a couple days in the hospital. You can imagine, this was a successful venture. But I always asked him,
"Why Wasn't Your Name On It? Why Don't You Talk About It More? You've Saved Thousands (maybe millions) of Lives, Yet No One's Even Heard Of You! Doesn't That Defeat The Purpose?! Don't people become doctors for the dollars??"
He always had the same amazing answer. "Honey, you don't do things to put your name on them or for the money. It's not who you are, it's what you do, and how you do it." Boom. Drop the mic, walk away.
Now not all of us are in occupations where we can "easily" (and I use that in the most generic of ways) give back. But what would our world look like if we ALL thought this way? If we stopped spouting words about how we can change something, and went out and just DID IT.
This sort of TAKE CHARGE mentality is going to make you a stronger asset in the workplace. You'll come into the office more confident and ready to discuss your craft when you've spent the weekend giving back to something you're passionate about. You may even be able to figure out a way to combine those two things! Do I smell a business venture??
So stop talking about things you care about, and begin listening. Listen to your peers, listen to those who may not have a voice, and talk through actions. It's so silly, but Actions do speak louder than words, and when you've actually given your time to something, people will start listening to you too. That's how you make change, that's how you become an effective leader, and that's how our world will become a better place. #TakeCharge of your life.