This idea is excerpted from Barbara’s book “CARE Packages for the Workplace–Dozens of Little Things You Can Do to Regenerate Spirit at Work” (McGraw-Hill, 1996)
The Idea:
One way to give back to your community and to create a feeling of understanding and good will for your organization is to sponsor community seminars and programs, regardless of whether they have anything to do with your business or industry.
The Idea In Action:
Hills Bank and Trust Company in Iowa City, Iowa, does a great deal to make a difference in the community. They have held community conferences on “Making Schools Fit Children,” “Seeking the American Dream — Inter cultural Understanding,” and a seminar on the importance of human relations in the workplace called “Positive Leadership Works.” It focused on the value of creating enthusiasm, being kind and considerate, and fostering positive attitudes to make the workplace more enjoyable and rewarding.
They also co-sponsor a “Community Reading Month.” They have distributed over 400 t-shirts to people in the community which say:
Just Recommend it
Experience it
Achieve it
Dream it
They also do a special summer reading project in Coralville, Iowa. This summer they had about 1200 kids sign up for the Coralville Reading Project, and the entire town only has about 6000! They sponsor a Chapter One reading program in the fall and high school leadership conferences to recognize over 250 high school students from eastern Iowa.
One of the bank managers said, “We have no official corporate philosophy or motto regarding these projects. In trying to figure out why Hills Bank and Trust Company has grown to become the largest bank in the community, our best guess is that we do meaningful community projects which has created an identity for Hills Bank and has allowed our staff to develop personal relationships with people in the community.”
A Supermarket Branch of a large bank in Idaho is sponsoring a weekly “Bank Day” savings program at a local elementary school. A personal retail banker visited each class in grades 1-6 and presented a program on savings accounts. Students were then encouraged to open up a minor savings account. Each week two associates from the branch office visit the school to open up new savings accounts and to help existing account holders with their accounts. What a wonderful service to help educate the next generation on the importance of”saving for the future!”
Tips:
No matter what the size of your organization, you can provide opportunities to educate and encourage people in your community. Get employees involved–they will feel good about sharing with others, and they will experience the positive affirmation the community will give both them and your organization. For example, some employees of city banks are offering free seminars at night in inner city neighborhoods for lower income and older people who need basic financial advice.
Barbara Glanz Biography
A member of the prestigious Speaker Hall of Fame and one of fewer than 700 Certified Speaking Professionals worldwide, Barbara Glanz, CSP, CPAE, works with organizations to improve morale, retention and service and with people who want to rediscover the joy in their work and in their lives. She is the first speaker on record to have spoken on all 7 continents and in all 50 states. Known as "the business speaker who speaks to your heart as well as to your head," Barbara is the author of twelve books including The Simple Truths of Service Inspired by Johnny the Bagger®, CARE Packages for the Workplace, and 180 Ways to Spread Contagious Enthusiasm™. Voted "best keynote presenter you have heard or used" by Meetings & Conventions Magazine, Barbara uses her Master’s degree in Adult Learning to design programs that cause behavior change. She lives and breathes her personal motto: “Spreading Contagious Enthusiasm™” and can be reached at bglanz@barbaraglanz.com and www.barbaraglanz.com.
