As (ambitious) leaders we are so sucked up in our daily operations, that we tend to forget that there is still a whole world out there. It's already so challenging to balance our time between work, family and leisure, that it becomes almost unthinkable to be even more involved in society.
Despite all those challenges, I have the strong opinion that leaders DO have a social responsibility.
Read on to find out why, and how you can contribute.
I've always been very convinced that by changing the lives of individuals we are able to change the world. That believe is even installed in the core of everything I do with The Happiness Factory.
I also strongly believe that every (ambitious) leader should be focused on changing the lives of individuals. Because that is the only reason of existence of a future leader (read "How AI forces you to change your role as a leader" to find out more about that).
As leaders, we're also very demanding (and we should be!) because we're ambitious and we want to realize that ambition for ourselves, for our company and ultimately for society.
And exactly because we ask and take a lot from our people, it's also time to give back. This can be in a direct way, directly to those people who work with us, for example by offering a superb work environment, and can also be more indirect by contributing to something bigger than our own ambition, for example by volunteering.
The reward is huge! You get into contact with other people, which can give you new perspectives; you feel the gratitude for the good work you're doing; and you experience the satisfaction of contribution.
All those influences can fuel you emotionally and mentally, so you become an even better, more empathic leader!
Another reason why leaders do have a social responsibility, is because we -as leaders- are actually the drivers of change and innovation in society. In many cases, politics is running behind the real changes and then creates a legal structure around it. As leaders we can also be drivers of social innovation, and that's a big reason why we should not only think about our own team or company, but should place it in a larger frame.
Perhaps you're wondering how you can contribute to society.
Well, this is a good example:
Earlier this week I had the opportunity to be present at the kick-off meeting of the Mentor2Work project. This project is created to help job seekers with a migration background succeed in their quest for a suitable position. And the need for such guidance is big!
We probably all heard a few stories of educated people who migrated and just couldn't find a right job, because of a language problem or even worst because their diploma isn't recognized.
A lot of talent is lost there.
And that is for people who already have an education. But what with the people who don't have an education? Even more talent is wasted there, because it doesn't mean that if you don't have a proper diploma that you don't have skills!
We, as ambitious leaders, can make a change in that!
We can help -mentor- those people to get to the point where they are totally ready for the job market. We can even change the job market to be more open to diversity in our teams and companies.
The Mentor2Work project is a very good way to have an influence in creating those changes.
2 mentors describe their personal involvement like this:
Frederik Defyn: "I was working as a dishwasher as a student. The other dishwasher was a lawyer from the former Soviet region. His skills and expertise wasn't recognized here so he couldn't do anything else that just cleaning cutlery.
Now I want to actively contribute to a better world, because so many talents are wasted.
Being active as a mentor in Mentor2Work also helps me to expand my network, and helps me to reflect on my own work and the choices that I make."
Morad Bennani: "The idea behind Mentor2Work is a strong idea, and it can only succeed when people actively support it. I already helped people in their search for a good job, and thanks to this initiative I can do that even more and within a framework.
Personally I had an emotionally rough year and by contributing in this way I can put my effort and thoughts into positive things."
All of the above is the reason why I am very proud to announce that I too became a supporting mentor for the project!
And so can you!
If you want to take up your social responsibility, and don't want any talent to be wasted, then become a mentor yourself!
Go to the website http://www.minderhedenforum.be/mentor2work (in Dutch) and subscribe yourself as a potential mentor.
Society and all those talented people out there will be very grateful.
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Earlier this week I had the opportunity to be present at the kick-off meeting of the Mentor2Work project. This project is created to help job seekers with a migration background succeed in their quest for a suitable position. And the need for such guidance is big!
Frederik Defyn: "I was working as a dishwasher as a student. The other dishwasher was a lawyer from the former Soviet region. His skills and expertise wasn't recognized here so he couldn't do anything else that just cleaning cutlery.
Morad Bennani: "The idea behind Mentor2Work is a strong idea, and it can only succeed when people actively support it. I already helped people in their search for a good job, and thanks to this initiative I can do that even more and within a framework.
