Shareholders and key stakeholders in businesses around the world want a Return On Investment (ROI) of funds. Your involvement in Pay it Forward Day and beyond is one of the best investments you can make. Why?

Positive Press: Companies spend tens of thousands of dollars trying to convey the right image behind their brand. Advertising is costly and is not as powerful or as effective as the positive press that a worthwhile charitable initiative creates.

Someone Always Needs Help: In your local community, there are always going to be people who need help. Whether it be a dog shelter, soup kitchen, nursing home, or a hospital there are many people who need assistance. You can make a real difference.

It is Great for Small and Big Businesses: We know that many large organizations get positive publicity around their charitable contributions. However, small businesses, who don’t have huge funds at their disposal, can quickly gain ‘raving fans’ in the local community. Why?  Because most people like to do business with an organization who ‘really cares.’

Additional Business: It is true that true Paying it Forward mentality means that there is ‘no expectation’ of getting something back – instead, the preference is for the recipient of the good deed to help someone else in need. It is only natural, however, that customers and potential customers like what your organization stands for and buys from you rather than your competitors.

Team Morale: Paying it Forward within an organization can have some amazing, positive effects on staff morale. The team will be more cohesive and deliver better results as communication channels within the business improve. Also, if teams within your organization work together on a common charitable cause it can help build a stronger unit.

Talent Identification: During charity type initiatives, there is a real opportunity to identify valuable skills and personality traits that can benefit your organization. For example, you may see a staff member shine as a leader or see the organizational talents of another person.

It Makes you Feel Good: Helping out someone in need makes a powerful difference to the recipient, but also makes you feel great too. If you are in a position to help others, why not?

Health Benefits: Studies have shown that the effects of kindness not only make you feel good but also improve your mental and physical health. In 1991 Allan Luks, former executive director of the Institute for the Advancement of Health and executive director of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of New York City, conducted a study of several thousand volunteers located around the country to understand what their emotional state was like after they helped someone else. He determined that helping others and performing acts of kindness improved the overall health of study participants, even lowering stress. So what are the workplace implications of Luks’s results? Well obviously we are living through some extremely difficult and stressful economic times, so if an act of kindness can help, even in some small way, wouldn’t you want to try it? And wouldn’t you want to try it in the workplace, which may well be the most stressful environment you are exposed to on a daily basis?

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People often don’t remember what you said, but they always remember how you made them feel. By encouraging staff to Pay it Forward, you create a positive energy in your business that creates a wonderful ripple effect out into the community. Imagine if every business, did some form of Pay it Forward activity each year. The difference it would make in the community would be priceless 🙂

It is great having your support 🙂