Serving others…To me, that meant giving away my time to volunteer. When I first started my business I knew that I wanted to serve my customers, but other than that, I was too busy building my business to start donating time. I needed that time for me, but here’s a mindset shift that has served me well.
Serving others means so much more and it is a key tool for thriving in a corporate environment or building a successful business. Oh, and it’s not always about donating time!
The whole idea of serving others can seem straight forward. Find a committee, sign up and serve. Volunteer for different community initiatives like soup kitchens, Habitat for Humanity, Dress for Success, and others, but there really is more to it.
I want you to consider “service to others” in another light, which is directly related to your career and business success.
In the last post we talked about picking a direction or a “lane” with your career or business as a first step.
Next, you want to really give some thought as to how you can serve others and here’s why!
The Top 5 reasons you want to serve in Business and Career:
1. You get to know your customer. When you are building a business, you have to find more and creative ways to serve your customer so that you stand out from the crowd of other entrepreneurs and businesses that offer the same thing. That means you have to forge a relationship with that customer, know them inside and out, know what bothers them, what keeps them up at night, what problems they need solved that only you can provide in your unique way. Its only by actually serving your customers that you get valuable feedback as to how they want to be served and you can tailor what you offer and how.
2. You discover your unique way of adding value at work. In a corporate environment you may not serve the external customer, but you definitely have internal customers. By thinking of your team, other colleagues, superiors and subordinates at work as your “customers” you can shift your attitude to one of service and truly provide value by performing your role in a manner that solves, or makes easier, other people’s problems. You become part of the solution and therefore, much more valuable to your company.
3. It builds your network. When you volunteer, you have a chance to meet other like minded individuals to expand your network. You can meet people from other cities, countries, industries, communities, etc. who all have different experiences, skills and connections that bring excellent resources to not only the initiative you are volunteering for, but for you too. Connect with them on LinkedIn or other social media and stay connected.
4. It takes your mind off of your troubles. It is said, and I’m a firm believer, that if you can help someone else with their troubles, it will take your mind off of your own. Here’s another neat aspect. Oftentimes when you are giving advice to someone else, listen to it yourself and see how it can apply to what you’re currently experiencing. We get stuck in a mental loop when we “chew” on our own problems and and when you remove the pressure and are freely offering suggestions to someone in need, they often apply to your own situation. Remember your ears are the closest to your mouth. Bonus!
5. You get it back in spades! It is a Universal Law that I have seen come into play again and again. When you help someone else get what they want you will get what you want in spades. You might volunteer for a project at work and someone remembers your unique skills and passes on an opportunity that would be a promotion. You might serve on a non-profit committee and you connect with just the right person to put your business in front of your ideal customers. You just never know. Trust the process and watch it happen for you too!
Share with me below how you have had the attitude of service and it’s paid off for you. Also, be sure to share this information with a professional woman that needs to hear it!
Be good to yourself and here’s wishing you the clarity you deserve!