I’ve long been a big believer in giving back to the community. I think it’s a good idea to help others who need help, contributing to the city that has been so good to my family, my business, and me. I make reinvesting in the Kansas City community a priority. Here are just a few of the reasons why I do this.
Builds Stronger Relationships
Getting involved in the community gets you out and meeting new people. Many of these people have similar interests, which lead to good working relationships. If you’re lucky, you’ll find a new friend as you’re building a house for Habitat for Humanity, working on fixing up a home for Christmas in October, or building a new roof for a deserving veteran.
My company, Shamrock Roofing and Construction, gives away a new roof each quarter to a veteran who’s been nominated by friends, family members, or acquaintances. I always get a kick out of letting them know they have a new roof coming. It’s a delight to see the look on their face!
Builds Brand Awareness
Building relationships with others through building community is a great way to gain brand awareness for your company. But be forewarned: If reaching out to help others is done in the wrong spirit, it could have the opposite effect. People can tell whether you’re genuinely concerned about them or not. If you’re reaching out to help people, make sure you’re doing it authentically.
Strengthens Employee Morale and Engagement
Research has shown over the years that employees who feel connected and involved in company activities are more engaged and tend to have better morale overall than those who are not connected. A company that schedules community outreach events provides opportunities for employees to get involved, meet new people, get to know coworkers better, and work together on a team. When a company demonstrates corporate responsibility by giving back to the community, employees feel good about working there. This boosts morale and creates more loyal employees — ones who are likely to stick around for the long haul.
Boosts Revenues
Any business that’s good at what it does is probably also good at solving problems. Just as employees feel good about helping solve problems in the community through philanthropic endeavors, customers also feel good about doing business with a company that does good things for others. Brands that set themselves apart from the competition by creating a community of giving back — especially if they can figure out how customers can get involved in the project, too — will recognize the benefits in increased revenues. Being a part of something this big creates a sense of belonging, something that everyone is looking for in one way or another.
One More Thing…
Companies that engage in community-building efforts are stronger, more successful, and reap the benefits of long-term employees and customers. But that’s just part of why I enjoy giving back to the community. The other part is that it just makes me feel good.
Do you take part in philanthropic activities in your community? If not, try it. You may be surprised by the results!