One common thread among the advisors we work with is that they’re passionate about serving the communities in which they live and do business. Their desire to help others extends beyond the work they do with clients and into other areas of their life.

 

Our agency is the same way—we love the opportunity to serve, and it’s important to us to make a positive impact on others. And while we’d volunteer our time for this reason alone, this focus on giving back as a company is also good for business.

 

Here are some ways serving others as a team can enhance your business:

 

Serving Together Develops Your Team

At LMG, we care very much about our employees as whole people, and this perspective has helped us cultivate a team of genuine, loyal, and passionate team members. Our company is like a family to us, and that’s largely because we’ve very intentionally poured into our culture.

 

Our work is the common thread that brings us together, but we care about more than the bottom line, and it shows. We invest in activities like fitness challenges and company retreats (aka “family reunions”), and these initiatives all help us grow closer as a team. It’s the same with serving in the community—when we attend events like the United Way Day of Caring, it builds camaraderie and continues to make the statement to our team that we are invested in them as people—and their community. We know the value in serving others, and we want to help cultivate that experience for them.

 

What if my team members aren’t local:

Only about 75% of our team is local, and the same can be said for many of our clients, so you may not have the opportunity to bring your whole team together and volunteer somewhere—but don’t let that stop you from participating in charitable efforts with your team members who are local. There are also creative ways to get your remote team involved, like participating in a virtual 5k to raise money for a charity.

 

Prioritizing Serving the Community Positions Your Company as a Desirable Workplace

Generation Z is permeating the workforce, and these individuals have made it clear that they care about the impact their job has on the world at large. They want to make a difference, both in their profession and in their life in general—and they want to know that their employer is similarly committed to making a positive change.

 

Devoting time to serving in your community or fundraising for a charity is another way to create a fulfilling work environment. Today’s workforce is motivated less by the “what” and more by the “why” and “how”—why they do what they do, why their job matters, and how they can make a difference through their jobs. So giving your employees opportunities to serve or benefit a cause they’re passionate about can be a great way to help recruit (and retain) driven young people for your company.

 

It’s Good to Do Good.

The first two reasons are for the good of your people and your business—it feels good to give back and know you’re making a difference, and it benefits your company to spend time together cultivating a close-knit, motivated, and fulfilled team. But for our agency, the most important element is that serving others is part of who we are. We’ve been given unique talents and resources, and we want to use them to help the community in which we live.

 

Our agency often does pro bono work for churches and local nonprofits, whether that’s building websites, consulting, designing different pieces, or helping promote an event. Our CEO and co-owner Kelly has served on the local school board and is the former President of the Lawton Public School Foundation board. She has participated on the local United Way board for about four years and is now the Vice President.

 

And we don’t do any of this to acquire new clients—most of our clients are in other states, and they’re not impacted by our local efforts to give back. We serve those around us because we believe it’s important to recognize and address the needs in our community. As many of our clients also say, “We are blessed to be a blessing.”