Everyone tends to focus on things that must be accomplished. Tasks at work, errands to complete before heading home, or emails and reports to read or write fill up our days, and sometimes nights, too. It’s easy to lose sight of other aspects of our life, such as generosity and compassion, when we’re constantly racing from one task to another.
Fortunately, society is beginning to focus on collaboration instead of competition. This “race to the top” mindset isn’t sustainable. In Leadership is Upside Down, generosity is defined as the kind disposition and altruistic manner that a person displays when dealing and interacting with others.1
People who are able to think beyond themselves instead of only focusing on winning will be more flexible and likely to develop a win-win mindset. Doing good things for others isn’t just good for them, it’s good for you, too. When we volunteer on a regular basis, we are more likely to strengthen our altruistic and empathetic behaviours, resulting in better mental and physical health.
Leaders often have opportunities to mentor, coach, teach or listen to those they collaborate and work with. People will appreciate the time and support you give them, and they will be more likely to feel engaged and connected with their teams and organisations. The spirit of cooperation and a capacity for solidarity are more valuable than selfishness and greed.
Collaboration is not possible when we remain in the limbic brain, which is most concerned with our own survival. Our society typically instils a deep sense of competition within us, beginning from early childhood. We compete as children, trying to get better grades or kick the ball further & these behaviours persist into adulthood. Many times, we only choose to be generous if it somehow benefits ourselves.2
The irony is, we do benefit from being generous, even if we don’t understand the intrinsic value of generosity. Neuroscience has proposed several mechanisms to explain altruistic giving. Oxytocin, a neurotransmitter in the brain, is often referring to as the “love hormone” because it plays a major role in social interactions. One research study found subjects with increased oxytocin (given intranasally) were 80% more generous than subjects given a placebo. Also, areas of the brain rich in oxytocin receptors showed increased activation when people made charitable donations.3
Generosity means giving, but it’s more than simply writing a check or dropping off old clothing. It means giving yourself the gift of happiness and the understanding that you are improving someone else’s life. Consider these tips to become a more generous leader and person in general.
When we become more generous, the effects will compound in our personal and professional lives. The i4 Neuroleader Model can help you learn more about the connections between generosity and the brain, and how to improve overall health. By embracing the latest advances from neuroscience and neuroleadership, we can become the leaders of the future.
Citations:
1. Damiano S, Cubeiro JC, de Haas T. Leadership is Upside Down: The i4 Neuroleader Revolution. About my Brain Institute. 2014.
2. McLennan K. Building Leaders for the Imagination Age: The Case for the i4 Model. About my Brain Institute. 2016;1. [White Paper].
3. Zak PJ, Stanton AA, Ahmadi S. Oxytocin Increases Generosity in Humans. PLoS ONE. 2007; 2(11): e1128.