Publication: RW Institute
Author: Chris Jarvis
Date Published: April 18, 2026
URL: Read the article
Brief Summary
The article argues that leaders can participate attentively in volunteering while remaining focused on logistics, efficiency, or organizational visibility. It explores how intentional facilitation can invite leaders to reconsider assumptions and engage more deeply with the people and issues they encounter.
Key Insights
Attention and participation do not necessarily translate into learning.
An opening Brief can introduce a human story and a question worth exploring.
Check-ins and a Debrief give participants space to examine their responses.
Research informs the approach, but does not establish that facilitation guarantees lasting change.
Relevance to CSR
The article helps practitioners consider how executive volunteering can support reflection and learning, alongside visible participation.
Key Takeaway for Practitioners
Give leaders a meaningful question before they begin, create space for reflection afterward, and follow up on whether the experience influences subsequent decisions or behavior.
Citation
Jarvis, C. (2026, April 18). The wrong question: Why your most attentive leaders walk away unchanged. RW Institute.