Since I brought it up in my last blog (and because BeVo made me aware of it)…let’s define “Voluntary Selflessness” (the Tammy version of course) I see it as a willingness, without reward, to sacrifice, without concern for, my own comfort or gratification. YIKES! There is not a lot of “ME lovin’ ME some ME” in that statement now is there? Doesn’t Jesus’ life on earth just exemplify Voluntary Selflessness?
When I think back to the 3 very influential leaders that helped shaped me in HR, each of them shared this quality of being voluntarily selfless to help me. They each picked out a quality characteristic of mine and worked on it. There was nothing in it for any of them to mentor me, in fact, I moved on from each of these organizations and they did not receive a reward for the countless hours they had to listen to me “process by talking.” They willingly gave up their time and I am sure they spent hours on their knees praying I would get what they were trying to teach me. They sacrificed to move my career forward. It was not always comfortable for them to listen to me or when they had to discipline me. Plain and simple, they sacrificed for me without concern for their own comfort.
A special thanks to Ray Clang for seeing my potential for 9 years and willingly building on that potential, saving me from myself many times in my young career! And Doug Woodson for letting me be me, yet showing me how to listen intently and how to build bonds with people so they want to work hard for you. And thanks to Joe Benevides for teaching me how to be empathic to people and their circumstances, “breathe” was always his first answer! Finally, thanks in advance for the work of my current mentor, Jeff Hook. He spends selfless hours partnering with God on trying to figure out exactly what to do with me! Although the first 3 men refined and shaped me, it is Jeff’s job to polish me day in and day out to keep me reflecting God. I certainly don’t envy Jeff’s job but I am grateful he is willing to do it! All of these men can attest, I am a handful and then some!
Like these 4 men, how will you, voluntarily, behave selflessly for the betterment of someone else? Isn’t that what really productive teams are made up of, people who willingly cooperate with each other regardless of the rewards or their own personal gain? They can set aside their desires, demands and even obsessions to serve others. Voluntary Selflessness, try it and just see how it changes your team.
Take the next 30 days and challenge yourself to behave selflessly each day at work (or at home) try some of the following things:
1. Speak encouraging words to those around you each day
2. Do not say one negative thing about any of your team members to anyone else
3. Do random acts of kindness for someone
4. Treat someone to lunch
5. Give someone a gift in secret so they don’t know who even brought it – just bless them
6. Show gratitude to a teammate for something you have been taking for granted that they do
7. Tell someone else what good things your teammates do
8. Praise someone for a good decision they made
9. Praise someone for a creative idea they had
10. Give grace to someone even when you don’t think they deserve it
11. Recognize when someone is growing spiritually and ask them how they are doing it
12. Look for ways in which people are acting with integrity and point it out
13. If someone is out of balance, ask them how you can help them and carry their load
14. Pray for others diligently
These are all things that portray love in action, to be more like Christ, to be voluntarily selfless. Remember that God is faithful, and He will bless you for your willingness to obey Him. His ways are not our ways, and perhaps He will honor you in ways you do not expect, but one thing is sure—you will never be the same because of your commitment to be more like Christ!
I am praying for your quest to be more like Christ, Tammy