The Bank of Good

Imagine a bank account where every deposit you make does good?  Where you know that every little bit that goes in will add value?  That the Bank of Good is doing good.

In today’s banking world we are never quite sure what the banks actually do with our deposits. Where is it invested? Is our deposit helping or harming? Developing or damaging?  Compassionate or careless?

But the Bank of Good? That’s different. You’re excited to make deposits. You see the impact on a daily basis and you are keen to keep making more and more deposits. But, here’s the difference. 

In the Bank of Good you’re not putting the deposits into your own account! You are actively, consciously and willingly making deposits into other people’s accounts.

You see, the Bank of Good is an Emotional Bank Account as popularised by Stephen Covey in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. The Emotional Bank Account is a metaphor for how we develop trust and relationships.

In the Bank of Good your deposits are received when you do good by someone; make time for them, listen with intent, say “Sorry”, remember something important to them, say “Hello” and smile and, crucially, when you act with compassion – understanding with positive action. 

Each of these compassionate deposits sit deep in the other person’s emotional bank account, gaining interest and “doing good”. They don’t last forever mind you so you will need to keep making them – last year’s anniversary card won’t carry you over to the next year!

But you can drain the balance in the Bank of Good too when you ignore someone, lie to them, be late, forget something important or if they perceive you are driven by self-interest. If you listen, but you’re not listening you’re glancing at your phone! When they share something personal, all you do is come back at them with your story rather than listen and explore theirs. These withdrawals hurt both them and you.

So what sort of bank account do you want? 

A compassionate one that adds value to others and grows the people around you?

Where all it takes to make meaningful deposits are acts of compassion?

Where you know there is a long term return on your investment?

Bank of Good, or …?

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Image: Courtesy of Frey Hopkinson – Universal Studio – Bali