Sometimes, it can seem like kindness on the part of businesses has become a dwindling commodity. Because so many people have come to associate businesses, regardless of size, with employee exploitation and a desire to generate profits regardless of human cost, it’s easy to see why kindness isn’t a quality that’s often attributed to employers. Fortunately, small business owners looking to distinguish themselves from the pack and exude kindness have no shortage of ways to go about this.
Collecting Donations for Worthy Causes
If there are any causes about which you feel passionately, consider using your small business as a vehicle for promoting them. For example, if your business is built around in-person transactions, you should think about placing donation boxes in the checkout area. By the same token, you may also want to consider asking customers who are in the process of if they’d like to include donations to certain causes in their transactions. Bringing certain causes to the attention of other local business owners can be a fantastic way to build awareness and help ensure that even more donations are taken in.
Additionally, if you have the financial resources to spare, you should think about making monetary donations to your favorite causes on the part of your business. For instance, business owners looking to donate to a variety of change-facilitating programs should check out the McCain Institute, an Arizona State University-based think tank that draws inspiration from the legacy of the late Senator John McCain.
Extending Employment Opportunities to People in Need
In today’s ever-changing job market, people are constantly looking to acquire new skills in order to make themselves attractive to prospective employers. As such, if you’re open to helping jobseekers get a foot in the door, why not offer educational internships through your business? Providing eager interns with invaluable hands-on training can be a great way to boost their confidence and expand their respective skill-sets. Furthermore, if you think that any of the interns you take on have full-time potential, consider extending employment opportunities – assuming you have the resources to do so.
Additionally, if your business regularly works with freelancers, you should consider extending similar opportunities to high-performing individuals. For example, if you’re eager to hang on to dependable contractors with whom you’ve been working for extended periods, offering to make them full-time team members can ensure that they stick with your business for the long haul. As an added bonus, if other freelancers become aware that such opportunities are possible, they may be inspired to put their all into any contract work they receive from your business.
Organizing Food Drives
Food insecurity is a major issue in the United States. Despite being among the wealthiest nations on the planet, the U.S. is no stranger to said issue and the various problems that stem therefrom. So, if you can’t stand the thought of your fellow citizens going hungry, consider organizing a food drive through your business. Although food drives are particularly prevalent during the holiday season, they tend to peter out in many areas after the new year has been rung in. However, since food insecurity isn’t a problem that simply vanishes after we take down our holiday lights, there’s never a bad time for your business to kick off a food drive.
As is the case with other charitable endeavors, partnering up with other local businesses can be an effective means of spreading the word and increasing the number of donations you receive. Furthermore, businesses that revolve around in-person transactions can benefit from encouraging customers to get the word out and providing a convenient donation area for patrons who wish to bring in food. Promoting food drives and other charitable events through your business’s various social media accounts – and encouraging your followers to do the same – can also prove helpful when it comes to maximizing awareness.
Unfortunately, kindness is something that never seems to be in ample supply. As a result, many people become disillusioned and believe that they can’t count on their fellow citizens – much less businesses – for anything. So, if you’re looking to show your community how much you care about facilitating positive change, there are an abundance of ways you can get your business involved in giving back. Whether it’s helping the community at large or extending kindness to your team members, the measures discussed above can provide lasting relief to people in need of it.
Ingrid Maldine is a business writer, editor and management consultant with extensive experience writing and consulting for both start-ups and long established companies. She has ten years management and leadership experience gained at BSkyB in London and Viva Travel Guides in Quito, Ecuador, giving her a depth of insight into innovation in international business. With an MBA from the University of Hull and many years of experience running her own business consultancy, Ingrid’s background allows her to connect with a diverse range of clients, including cutting edge technology and web-based start-ups but also multinationals in need of assistance. Ingrid has played a defining role in shaping organizational strategy for a wide range of different organizations, including for-profit, NGOs and charities. Ingrid has also served on the Board of Directors for the South American Explorers Club in Quito, Ecuador.
