Date: 12/22/2015

Title: GIFTS AS A LEADER – Part 1

By Jennifer Erickson

The month of December is associated with many things. One of these is the giving of gifts. We sometimes think our gifts have to be something big, or given with a lot of fanfare. We sometimes think gift-giving occurs only at certain times of the year. At times, we think gift-giving is a reciprocal activity…..we give a gift; we get a gift.

As leaders, the premise of giving gifts is entirely different. Leaders give gifts every day. Or, at least they could. Leaders give gifts without fanfare. Or, at least they should. Leaders give gifts without expectation of receiving something in return.

As a leader, think about what you give your employees. Yes, you “give” them a paycheck and benefits. Yes, you “give” them an office space, computer, phone, resources, etc. But, as a leader, you are in a position to give people much more than this. And, you have the ability to influence a person for decades to come. Your influence functions like a ripple in a pond, after a pebble has been tossed in. The people you influence, influence others. The gifts you give, open doors for your employees to influence others.

While you can give the people you lead many gifts, some of the most important are: a chance to learn something, a chance to develop new skills, and confidence to take a risk. Take a look at this list. Notice how these gifts have the potential to continue giving, to influence your people (and others) for years and years. They could be thought of as “life skills”.

To learn more about how to practice this understanding, contact Results Group, LLC at www.ResultsGroupLLC.com or 515-330-2866.