Working with Compassion

Share your knowledge, expand your network, act with compassion. Tim Sanders, author of the groundbreaking Love Is the Killer App: How to Win Business and Influence Friends, says that the best way to build your career or business is to practice generosity-to the extreme. By working this way, we garner trust and respect in others and clients are drawn to authenticity and kindness. Sanders doesn’t talk about love in a fluffy, false way but as a genuine mindset to doing business.

To share your knowledge, you need to build your knowledge. Reading business and personal development books, magazines and blogs gives you a base from which to share.

When you can’t provide a service to a client or colleague, you may be able to share knowledge with them. Being able to say “I can’t help you directly, but you might try reading this article” allows you to provide valuable assistance without being a subject matter expert.

Expanding your network allows you to help others by introducing them to people they might want to work with or who can support their vision.

While “networking” sometimes has a false “people collecting” image, when you think of establishing contacts so you can connect people with others who can provide solutions for their issues, “networking” becomes a altruistic venture.

Again, if you can’t help a client, but know someone who can, you will be considered a resource when people in your target market need help -or know someone who needs help. Becoming a portal of information will make a measureable difference in your practice or other service business.

Finally, can we say enough about living with compassion?

Living and working with compassion makes others feel better … both about you and themselves. We are drawn to those who empower us, cheer us on, or listen during hard times.

Colleagues and clients are no different. Compassion is a leadership trait that perhaps doesn’t draw enough attention. If your professional brand includes compassion, you will naturally draw others to you.

So. Love is a killer application. Add it to your toolbox.

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