5 Leadership Lessons from Make-A-Wish

Several years ago, my family had the awesome privilege of being treated to a Make-A-Wish trip. As many people know, Make-A-Wish grants wishes to children who have experienced a life-threatening illness. From the beginning of the process to the very end, this was nothing short of a remarkable example of vision and excellence. Here are five things I learned from Make-A-Wish that can make a difference for every leader who applies them.

1. Blessing.

To be blessed is to be shown special favor or experience joy. Make-A-Wish and their partner organizations truly bless others. Whether we were at Disney World, Universal Studios, or Sea World, when employees saw that my daughter was wearing a special Make-A-Wish lanyard, they rolled out the special treatment, beginning with moving us to the front of the line! “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” Proverbs 11:25

Leadership lesson: Think of a person or two in your organization that would be encouraged by having you show special favor to them this week. How will you show it?

2. Excellence.

From the initial interview, to being picked up in a stretch limousine (likely my first and last opportunity for that), to having a person waiting at the airport to show you to your van, to having a gift card with a lot of money on it to be used for whatever you choose during your trip, every part of the process was marked by excellence. They viewed every step in their process as worthy of excellence because, at the end of the day, their mission was to bring joy and hope to a sick child and his or her family.

Leadership lesson: Where are you seeing excellence exemplified in your organization today and where would you like to see it grow?

3. Generosity.

Both Make-A-Wish and Give Kids The World (another awesome organization that works in partnership to grant wishes for very sick children) are funded by thousands of donors who receive NOTHING in return for their giving. In fact, when the founder of Give Kids The World started it, he told all corporate sponsors that their business names were not going to be used because it wasn’t about them! Even though it was 14 years ago, I still remember the extreme generosity of these two organizations.

Leadership lesson: When was the last time that you did something without seeking any recognition or credit?

4. Diversion.

People that are experiencing extraordinary stress and anxiety due to unexpected pressures such as illness, finances, and other difficult circumstances sometimes need a positive diversion, like the experiences that Make-A-Wish offers. I recently read about a study from the University of Washington which found that when patients participated in a virtual reality game while having a wound cleaned, they felt up to 50% less pain. It was even more effective than medication! While positive diversions do not result in the real pressures permanently going away, they do provide a temporary break in the cycle of stress and strain.

Leadership lesson: How well do you monitor the stress levels of the members of your team and what diversionary activity can you offer to provide some temporary relief?

5. Self-determination.

I remember when the first representative from Make-A-Wish came to our house to discuss with my daughter what she was considering for her wish. They wanted to talk to her alone for a few minutes because they wanted to make sure it was her “wish” without any pressure from the parents. This refers to self-determination, which means allowing people to have reasonable control over their life and direction.

Leadership lesson: How are you encouraging your team to have input and make decisions in the areas of the organization that have the greatest impact on them?

Even though it has been 14 years since that trip, I still often think about it, remembering how special it was. Recalling the impact of the trip has also led me to give back to them all these years later as they continue to bless others. As you think about these five lessons, consider picking one and applying it to your own life and leadership in order to add genuine value to your team or organization.

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Jay Desko is the CEO of The Center Consulting Group and brings experience in the areas of organizational assessment, leadership coaching, decision-making, and strategic questioning. Jay’s degrees include an M.Ed. in Instructional Systems Design from Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Leadership from The Union Institute.