Best-Self Management Intentionally Building A Culture of Generosity w/ Dr. Wayne Baker
Ever wonder how you will achieve the monumental tasks required of you at work? Few people realize that they’re already surrounded by all the resources they need to reach their goals. There are people around you who would be happy to help. All you have to do is ask, but most people simply don’t make the request.
Today, we’ve brought in an expert who has helped people and organizations successfully build cultures where anyone can tap into the giving power of what is actually a massive network of resources.
Dr. Wayne Barker is a Professor of Business Administration and Professor of Management & Organizations at University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, and Faculty Director of the Center for Positive Organizations. His work focuses on social networks, generosity, values, and positive organizational scholarship. He is the author of All You Have To Do Is Ask: How To Master the Most Important Skill For Success as well as five other books and many scholarly articles.
Today, Dr. Baker describes his findings surrounding generosity. He’s discovered that most people are willing and even eager, to help others. The disconnect often occurs because people are reluctant to ask for help when they most need it.
Dr. Baker discusses how organizations can best make use of generosity while making sure that everyone’s needs are met and acknowledged. This requires intentionally building a culture of generosity. To that end, Dr. Baker shares tools and strategies that any organization can use to help achieve this.
What are you working on and what do you need? Go ahead and ask in the comments on the episode page!
In this episode
- The innate generosity of human beings & the dangers of dysfunctional generosity
- What it means to build a culture of generosity
- How joining a culture of generosity can change someone’s own sense of giving and receiving
- Specific practices for building a culture of generosity and guidance on how to formulate requests
- Tools to help automate the question asking process
- Getting past the fear of asking for help, especially with “dormant connections”
Quotes
“Everyone wants a culture of generosity. But it turns out the barrier is not that people are unwilling or unable to help, but that people are reluctant to ask for what they need.” [3:22]
“The best workplaces make routines and rituals where it’s expected to ask for help and to give help.” [11:39]
“Sometimes help comes from very unlikely places. It’s because we have networks. We have networks that extend way out into the world.” [18:58]
Links
Center for Positive Organizations
Assessments & Resources: All You Have To Do Is Ask
Follow Wayne Baker on Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter