A Culture of Giving

The Christmas and New Year period has been and gone, but does this mean that all the giving should stop? Doing good makes people feel good! It makes us happy, so why savour these feelings strictly for December? The answer is, we shouldn’t. The do-good, feel-good philosophy I speak of has been seen all over the globe for centuries, but it tends to look different depending on the culture and even the age bracket.

The commonly quoted US Pew Study reported that millennials (individuals born after 1980) prioritise helping those in need over a sizeable paycheck. We already know that millennials are seen by some as less loyal, as they are less likely to stick with an employer than Baby Boomers for example. Several reports indicate that this is primarily due to millennials placing higher importance on values such as health and social consciousness than any other generation. To put it simply, why would millennials continue working for a company if its behaviour doesn’t coincide with their moral compass? They are far more likely to go out in search of an employer that makes a conscious effort to use sustainable materials, to recycle, to give back to the community or even better, the third world.

How does all this link? Why is it essential to the way that you do business? You don’t have to search far to hear about corporate scandals, about how companies are experiencing significant backlash by a failure to uphold their corporate social responsibility. The world we live in is ever-changing, and our future generations hold precisely that in their hands – our future. It is about time businesses adjusted to the needs and values of those who will continue their legacies. Not merely to avoid controversy, but to be part of a new paradigm called conscious capitalism. If more businesses became in touch with the principles associated with conscious capitalism, they would begin to understand that how we spend our time and money are shaping not only our world but also the world our children are growing up.

I am a member of Conscious Capitalism and also the chair of the United Nations Association Western Australia Human Rights Committee. I also act as a mentor to UWA students in their final year of studies, providing support on what they can expect post-study. If you are interested in acting as a mentee, you can apply here.

My involvement in these organisations gives me insight into the demands of future generations, of differing cultures and consumers. I do this in my spare time on top of running a business, being a mother, a wife, a friend and so many other things, because I truly believe this will make the world a better place.

All this information leads me to a few questions I’d like to ask you.

What is the culture of your business? How do you give back? Do millennials or any other generation feel proud to be part of your team? Does your business make them happy?

Consumer attitudes about social change are shifting. This can be seen locally, with the future implementation a plastic bag use ban for businesses in WA. On a global scale, people are becoming more aware of the corporate social responsibility and sustainable practices. Big businesses are increasingly using it as brand differentiation, so why should this stop at the conglomerates? Businesses of all sizes should be maximising their potential and ensuring the future of their companies by following these principles.

Rare Birds, with the support of Beyond Bank Australia, are hosting an upcoming panel discussion surrounding these topics, titled “Giving as a Strategy”. The panel includes myself and four other successful business people, Tom Kooey, Skye Gilligan, Lacey Fillpich and Alicia Curtis. This special business event will take place on Thursday 15th February from 5:30 – 7:30 PM at FLUX on 191 St Georges Terrace in Perth, WA and will be MC’d by the fabulous Sue Pember, Rare Birds Global Ambassador.

See the attached PDF for more information and feel free to forward this on to your networks – Rare Birds Panel Discussion Audience Invitation

As a final note, I would love to hear about the existing ‘giving culture’ at your organisation or how I can assist in supporting your drive for positive cultural change.

I look forward to your replies!

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