Flipping Tipping On Its Head
Tipping has developed a bad reputation over the last few years; some of it deserved. It seems like everyone, eyes wide with envy, is chasing the almighty tip dollars. Everyone is asking for tips these days! People are burned out, and in many ways, I don't blame them. Example: I was recently asked to tip at a self-serve kiosk with ZERO employees. Who am I tipping, the machine?!?!
However, I also believe the tipping pendulum is at risk of swinging back too far. With people fed up with open-hand tip requests, many are cutting back and/or ceasing tips altogether. I don't think this is the right approach, either.
So, today, I have a proposal to make you. Instead of viewing tipping as some entitlement hand-out baked into the already-high price of goods and services, let's reframe it as giving. The opportunity to tip is an opportunity to practice generosity. I'm not suggesting every single tip request merits a generous tip, but rather, we should welcome the opportunity to reward excellence with intentional generosity.
I approach tipping as the training ground and experimental lab of generosity. Have you ever left an obscenely high tip for someone? It will rock your world. Have you ever been served by someone who was clearly having a stressful day, only to see their face change upon receiving an outsized tip? It will make your day. Have you ever given a thoughtful tip to someone who oftentimes doesn't receive a tip at all? It's life-giving.
No, you don't have to tip. Yes, it would be cool if employees were paid more. No, you shouldn't be made to feel guilty. Yes, it's ridiculous that every single role is now requesting tips. Despite all that, I still believe each of us has the influence to use these little opportunities to move the needle in people's lives and in our culture. Further, embracing these little moments will also add value to our own lives. It will brighten our day, make us smile, and give us something to think about.
Join me. Let's reframe tipping in our lives. Let's lean hard into generosity and make some people's days. It might be one of the coolest things you do all day.
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