Client Area

Helping Hands

Last Friday afternoon I had a speaking engagement at Cranfield University. Despite the Beast from the East meets Storm Emma scenario, the delegates had managed to get there, so I had to get there too. It was the worst day of the snow in this area. My husband drove me, muttering furiously all the way. I can’t blame him. Everywhere we went traffic was skidding out of control, there were jams, accidents, cars weren’t able to get up hills and cars had nose-dived into ditches. It was a horrible journey and took two hours to cover 15 miles.

But on two roads close to Cranfield there were a number of people togged up in high-vis jackets helping out passing motorists. They pushed cars that were stuck, towed vehicles out of hedges and ditches, even dragged cars struggling to get up the hill to the top. It was extraordinary. I have no idea who they were – not police, not firefighters - but their help made the journey along those two roads much safer. Thank you guys. You were brilliant.

Since then I have been mulling over the idea of the importance of offering a helping hand. Entrepreneur Brian Tracy said “Successful people are always looking for opportunities to help others. Unsuccessful people are always asking, ‘What’s in it for me?’”

Helping others is not just a nice thing to do. It can be good for business and our health, but we often get too caught up in day-to-day living to give people the help they need.

Here are some ways we can help others in business – and in so doing help ourselves.

  • One of the easiest ways to help others is to share the knowledge and expertise you have.
  • If you have under- or unused resources available try to connect them to people who can use them.
  • Keep an eye out for opportunities for others. It could be good PR, a potential partner, or a general business opportunity. Once you see an opportunity, think about who could benefit from knowing about it. Use your business connections to help others.
  • Be a brand ambassador for your favourite products and services and let others know about your experiences.
  • Help business associates by giving them recognition. You can include them in an article that you’ve written or mention them in a speech or presentation or nominate them for an award.

Helping others doesn’t just make the business world better. Studies indicate that the very act of giving back to the community boosts your personal happiness, health, and sense of well-being too. Being actively helpful:

  • can help you live longer;
  • makes us happy;
  • may help with chronic pain;
  • lowers blood pressure;
  • promotes positive in others;
  • gives us a sense of purpose and satisfaction;
  • can help you attract great colleagues.

There is a Chinese saying that goes: “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.”

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DISCLAIMER

Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this blog, nothing herein should be construed as giving advice and no responsibility will be taken for inaccuracies or errors.

Copyright © 2018 all rights reserved. You may copy or distribute this blog as long as this copyright notice and full information about contacting the author are attached. The author is Kate Russell of Russell HR Consulting Ltd.

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