National Gratitude Month: 6 Ways To Pay It Forward At Work
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There is always someone or some circumstance to which we can be grateful for everything we enjoy in our lives, which is why National Gratitude Month is so important. But many of us walk around with blinders, taking for granted the things we delight in and utilize every day.
It doesn’t make us “bad” people – it’s just the nature of this go-go-go society. It’s hard to find moments to focus on gratitude. However, if you do – and on a regular basis – it can pay dividends.
Berkeley University’s Greater Good Science Center put out extensive research on the benefits of practicing gratitude, from benefits in the workplace, to benefits to physical health and more. The paper really shows how practicing gratitude can actually improve nearly every area of our lives. But what does it mean to practice gratitude? That word “practice” implies action – not just sitting and contemplating gratitude. National Gratitude Month is the perfect time to take on a more active approach to gratitude, which is why this month MADAMENOIRE is doing a weekly series about paying it forward in every area of your life. We all have people who have done things for us, for which we could never properly repay them. What we can do is pay that kindness forward. We kick off this National Gratitude Month series with ways to pay it forward in your career, honoring those who helped you get where you are today.
Keep A “Who Can I Help” List
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This is an ongoing project that you’ll always be chipping away at. Keep a small notebook with you, and when you become aware of someone who needs something professionally – like to hire someone, or to get a job – write it down. Keep a running list of professional contacts, their expertise and their goals. Over time, you can start to connect the dots between people on your list who should know each other.
You might consider keeping a live copy of the list on a digital platform like Google Docs or a spreadsheet. This way, you can search the document with a simple click for a certain word and rapidly spot people who would benefit from knowing each other.
Become A Mentor
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If you recognize someone younger or less advanced than you in your career who has a lot of potential, take them on as a mentee. Make it your goal to share useful information with them, grab coffee regularly and let them pick your brain. Bring them to experiences that could be educational and generally oversee their career progress. Mentors can be integral to a person’s success because they don’t just impart their wisdom but they also look for and facilitate real opportunities for their mentee. As a mentor, you can also help your mentee navigate the emotional and mental challenges of your career field.
Host Free Workshops
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Donate your expertise. If you have a marketable, lucrative skillset that people usually must pay to learn, teach it for free. You could ask your office if you can use a room once a month to offer a workshop where you’ll teach skills to those at the company who hope to advance. Or you can open this workshop up to limitless attendees and teach it virtually. When you don’t have money to donate to organizations that educate young professionals, you can donate your wisdom, and that is something people can monetize.
Start An Initiative At Work
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If you have a good relationship with the higher-ups at your company, approach them about starting an initiative for the younger and newer employees. This might be an opt-in program through which employees get regular reviews and are considered for promotions or growth opportunities. It could be a monthly luncheon where people at entry and mid-level jobs get to network with higher-ups who they don’t naturally encounter during their workday. National Gratitude Month is the perfect time to initiate the first one of these programs.
Create A Job
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If you are an entrepreneur and have more work than you can handle, maybe it’s time to create a job. Perhaps you need an assistant, a social media coordinator, a graphic design person, a website person – you know the tasks you keep setting aside to handle the bigger stuff. If the funds are there, hire someone. Job creation is a beautiful way to pay it forward. If the funds aren’t there, create an internship, and take a hands-on role to making sure this opportunity is beneficial to both parties.
Promote The Success Of Others
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When someone in your field has a victory, share it. Announce it on social media or stand up and make an announcement in the office. Sing the praises of others. Sometimes that little recognition goes a long way. You never know – you might be the only person in their life who took the time to acknowledge their win.
