Give Back to Small Business: A Matter of Values
Why does your company or organization exist? Whether you sell a product or a service, have customers who are community members, companies or individuals, there is likely a meaningful purpose based on values that is the “why” behind its existence.
Harness Leadership exists to help leaders be even more effective, part of our value of doing meaningful work. We know that the best leaders are learners, and when we have the chance, we like to give back to our community by providing free learning opportunities. We’re doing that again this October 18-20 through The Leadership Challenge Workshop.
This effort is possible thanks to the support provided by The Leadership Challenge®, a Wiley brand, publisher of the complete library of Leadership Challenge resources. The Leadership Challenge Workshop engages leaders from various Indianapolis area non-for-profit organizations. The purpose is to provide access to "corporate quality" leadership training to those who could not afford it on their own. In the past, we were able to welcome leaders from non-profits such as School on Wheels, Pathway to Recovery, Hendricks Regional Health Foundation, Dove Recovery, John Boner Neighborhood Centers, Best Buddies, Louisville Muslim Community Center, Science and Innovation, and No Exit Performance. Through virtual training in 2020, we introduced leaders from across the country in inter-faith groups to the workshop and co-hosted leaders for a Black History Month workshop.
“I loved this workshop. This is the kind of training that will help me do a better job starting today. It’s all so powerful. We just don’t have funds for this kind of training and these types of materials - thank you!”
A few of the attendees in our first “Give Back” program in 2013 knew of each other. For the most part, however, the group consisted of 18 strangers who were united primarily by their passion to give back to their own communities. As the group began sharing experiences, several stories stood out for the ways in which participants truly put The Five Practices into action.
One particular story, for example, gave rise to a unifying sense of how these 18 strangers could come together to create a community of their own. It all began when James ‘J.T.’ Taylor, who counseled incarcerated young people through his work at Peace Learning Center, shared a story on Model the Way.
J.T., who is 70, talked of how he helped a group of young men buy into practicing yoga by doing it with them! Said JT, “Of course, I didn’t simply have them follow the instructor. I did yoga, too, to demonstrate that I was in it with them.”
After hearing about JT’s willingness to Model the Way, even with his “weary old bones”, many of the other nonprofit leaders were interested in partnering with him in his work at the Peace Learning Center. “Let’s join J.T. and offer art, theater, and service to these teens.”
Another great story came from Justin Felton, President of the Purdue Student Union Board. Felton, a Purdue senior, talked about how they Challenged the Process with a recent 18-hour Dance Marathon.
“The previous year, we raised about $600,000 for Children’s Hospital with 1,000 students participating. So this past year, we thought we could raise $1,000,000 if we could just increase the number of volunteers to 2,000. Unfortunately, the administration didn’t want to publicize the goal because they thought it was impossible, and didn’t want the bad press if we missed it. But we knew differently and just went for it. With just one hour to go before the end of the marathon, we were about $70,000 short of our goal. So in spite of how tired people were after 17 hours on their feet, everyone in the room was asked to reach out to their ‘communities’ one final time asking for donations. And we did it! We got 2,000 volunteers and we raised $1,000,000.”
At the end of the program, Kate Hussey, Chief Operating Officer at School on Wheels, summed up her experience in two words: Inspiring and Enabling. “I loved this workshop,” she said. “This is the kind of training that will help me do a better job, starting today—and coupled with the LPI coaching will help me lead my team much more effectively. It’s all so powerful. We just don’t have funds for this kind of training and these types of materials –very kind of Wiley… Now I just need to find a way for my boss to attend!” And in the end, Sally Bindley, Founder and CEO of School on Wheels, was indeed able to attend The Leadership Challenge Workshop in January, 2014 (over the years we’ve been happy to have many School on Wheels leaders attend).
This important Give Back Program not only provided nonprofit leaders a chance to devote time to their own leadership; it also provided them with the opportunity to build community. We are grateful that we were able to contribute to the Indianapolis community and beyond, and to engage with such inspiring leaders.
This year, we’re focusing our attention on women and minority leaders in small business on October 18-20, 2021. Would you, a friend, colleague or your favorite small business leader like to join us?
Parts of this article first appeared on The Leadership Challenge website.