How Working for Nothing Makes Better Team Members

25 July 2019

Twelve Principles of Self-Reliance
Principle 7: Serving Others

People who spend time giving time to their communities make better members of organizations.

Most of us are social creatures; we long to connect, to make a difference, and to do something good. It turns out that serving each other is also good for the bottom line. Why is this?

Let’s look at the myth that capitalism has to exploit one group to profit another. There are many examples of exploitation, but some of the most successful societies are those in which people serve each other. The Golden Rule is truly golden. The philosopher Plato considered a society that allowed various groups to flourish, but not at the expense of others. Subsequent philosophers and writers championed justice, equality, and liberty as essential elements for a successful society. So the idea that making life better for someone else also makes life better for yourself is not new. Why is it, then, that so few companies make time for employees to serve in their communities?

Thomas S. Monson, the former leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said: “When we work together cooperatively, . . . we can accomplish anything. When we do so, we eliminate the weakness of one person standing alone and substitute the strength of many serving together.” When we serve other people in our communities, we create a stronger sense of connection. We also recognize that we are doing what God would have us do. This makes us better human beings, at work and at home.

Some of the immediate benefits of helping in your community include:

We learn how to express our feelings and bond with others who may look and feel differently than we do.

We develop work skills that help us grow in our careers. When we help other people, we might discover that we are good at solving problems, or working with our hands, or presenting information, or leading teams.

If you are looking for opportunities for you and your coworkers to serve, go to the nonprofit site justserve.org. You’ll find plenty of projects right in your own backyard.