The Spirit of Generosity

Having a spirit of generosity is about seeing the world as an abundant place.?Having generosity in business is about giving your resources, tools and time (or whatever else it takes) to support your clients to succeed. And the value of generosity is loyal customers who trust that you’re looking after their interests.

What is generosity in business?

Generosity in business is simply putting in that extra effort or that extra bit of time, or giving that extra piece of advice or additional service to your clients. And in your practice, this can come out in many ways.

You might give a loyal client additional access to your signature program. You might jump on an introductory call with a client to build an opportunity with someone else. You might just be more available by phone to answer questions.

Whatever it is, it’s about giving a little bit more to support your clients to succeed.

I recently met with a potential client who needed some help with a specific skill for their leadership team. When she described what she needed I said "Look, it's not really my area of expertise but I can refer you to (name), she's the guru in this space. She's expensive and super generous and she's the best in the world at this. You'll love her".

It turns out they did want the best. There was so much at stake with the issue they were having that they needed it solved and fast!

I knew this person priced their programs well,?that they are generous with their expertise and turns out they absolutely loved her. So much so they have signed a significant piece of work for the next 12 months.

What holds us back from being generous

When it comes to being generous in business, many people are afraid that doing so might allow others to rip them off. They worry that they might be taken advantage of. Or they might even feel that they’re giving away their hard-earned work or IP.??

But the problem is if you’re holding back on being generous, then you’ll just end up getting resentful and bitter. You’ll start keeping a running tally of when you provided service, the calls you made and more. And you’ll lose sight of the big picture – helping your clients succeed.

Rather than being generous, some people will instead look for discounts. That is to make their products or services cheaper. But the problem with discounting is that it just becomes a race to the bottom. And when you’re not being paid well for your services, you will definitely start to lose your ability to be generous.

What is the value of generosity?in business?

Being generous will bring huge value to you?and?your clients. After all, as Anne Frank said, ‘No one has ever become poor by giving.’

1. Generosity?makes you happier.?And happier people make others (like your clients) feel good. Even more, when we’re happy we’re more likely to do more generous things for others, further building the cycle.
2. Generosity is good for your health.?Studies?show that those who volunteered more (or who were more generous), had better overall health, including blood pressure, hearing and sleep. Generosity is also good for your?psychological health and well-being. Those who gave more have a better quality of life, feel greater vitality and have higher self-esteem.??
3. Generosity builds relationships.?Generosity in relationships is?associated with more contentment, and it helps to build longer-lasting relationships. In work, it also helps to reduce?job burnout.??
4. Generosity creates more generosity.?Swiss researchers have also found that?generosity begets generosity. In other words, people who have felt generosity towards them, are more likely to show generosity to others. This is that old idea of paying it forward, and it’s a hugely important leadership train and an incredible benefit to business practices.??
5. Generosity builds gratitude.?Research?shows that not only does being the recipient of generosity help us feel good. But when we are feeling grateful, we’re also more likely to demonstrate more generosity!

How to build generosity into your business or practice

When it comes to building generosity into your business or practice, there are many things that you can do. You might take your staff out to lunch or dinner, or gift them with tickets to their favourite concert. You might celebrate their wins and remember their milestones and important personal dates (like birthdays and anniversaries).??

With your clients, you might give them more of your time than they’re strictly entitled to. You might be more available to answer questions or more accessible for advice. You might extend the timeframe for their work with you if they are really needing some additional help. Or you might just remember their birthdays and milestones as well.

Whatever it is that will help you to build a stronger relationship of trust and connection with your clients, those are the things you should be doing.

Don’t forget to consider your pricing

Part of what you need to consider when trying to be more generous is your pricing. When you are priced correctly, you have the freedom to be generous. You have that flexibility built in because you know that you are already being valued and you can manage your boundaries.

On the other hand, when you aren’t priced properly then you might get resentful. You’ll start trying to scrabble back those additional amounts through your services. And that will stop you from being truly generous in your practice.

Questions

So, to get started, ask yourself the following questions:

1. What motivates your clients and your team?
2. Are you pricing in a way that allows you to be generous?
3. What creative ideas do you have to bring more generosity into your business?

I’d love to hear your thoughts….

Jane Anderson is a strategic communications expert, speaker and the author of 11 books, including her upcoming new book, "Nurture: How to Make Care Your Competitive Advantage ". With over 20 years of experience helping people to communicate confidently, she is obsessed with authentic influence and human connection to drive business growth in a world of disruption and automation. To inquire about her working with you or your organisation please contact us here.