If we are to imagine a Culture of Generosity, what values might we need to guide us?
• Responsibility: We are all in this together. As such, we have personal responsibility to look out for one another. I don't mean to imply that we sacrifice self-interest, but instead that we have mutual interests that can be uncovered, if we dare to look for them and feel an obligation to engage in the exploration;
• Respect: We all have the capacity to make meaningful contributions. The concept of 'respect' manifests itself in diverse ways across cultures, and for that matter, is perceived and constructed differently by different people. Engaging in respectful behavior flows from this value...
• Transparency: We all benefit from sharing information, wisdom, and lessons learned. Rather than hoarding knowledge, we start from a desire to share it for mutual benefit and let others know of the uncertainty inherant in our sense of Knowing. There is a humility in transparency as a value...how can I truly judge what you need to know if you are as wise as I?
• Trust: We need to reliably predict our own and one another’s actions to the best of our abilities (substantive, emotional, contractual trust). In turn, this fosters a greater capacity to appreciate deeper meaning in relationships of various types, whether in the workplace, family, or community.
From these basic values we can begin to engage in conversations about generosity... what does it look like in practice? How have we experienced it? Are these values truly expressed in these stories? What other values matter?
Add your voice to the conversation...
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