Give and take
Transformative strategies for achievement
Description
Historically, business success was attributed to passion, hard work, talent, and luck. However, current research suggests that interpersonal interaction, specifically adopting a giving approach, is a key determinant of success. People generally exhibit one of three styles at work: takers, who aim to gain as much as possible; matchers, who balance giving and taking; and givers, who assist others with no expectation of return.
Givers, although a minority, tend to achieve the most remarkable success across various industries. Their success not only benefits them but also creates a positive ripple effect, enhancing the success of those around them. Adam Grant's research indicates that while all three styles can lead to success, givers do so in a way that generates value and garners widespread support.
Table of contents
01Ascending as a giver
Individuals who are successful in giving have a unique approach to the four main activities that are crucial in today's business environment. Their distinctive methods of networking, collaborating, evaluating, and influencing often propel them to the top of the corporate ladder. Even if you don't naturally have a giving disposition, adopting their successful strategies can significantly improve your career prospects. By learning from givers, you can understand what they are doing correctly and use that knowledge to your advantage.
Building connections
Networking is a strategic tool that offers access to confidential information, a variety of skills, and power and influence. Individuals approach networking differently, often influenced by their inherent tendencies as takers, matchers, or givers. Takers aim to expand their networks widely, using connections to promote their achievements and boost their self-importance. Matchers, in contrast, network with the expectation of reciprocal favors, engaging in a balanced give-and-take with their contacts.
Givers like adam rifkin, hailed by fortune magazine as the world's best networker, adopt a more altruistic approach. They network with the intent to assist, categorizing connections into strong, weak, and dormant ties, and regularly rekindling these relationships to add value and potentially uncover valuable information. Rifkin's method involves offering five-minute favors without expecting anything in return, encouraging a culture of paying it forward.
Contrary to the assumption that such generosity might hinder productivity, research indicates that givers can be highly productive. Their willingness to help builds trust and often leads to receiving more support from their work groups, balancing out the time spent aiding others. Influential figures like reid hoffman and ivan misner have supported the notion that altruism in networking can yield significant benefits. Keith ferrazzi, martin luther king, and mark twain have all emphasized the importance of generosity and the principle of give-and-take in building successful networks.
Fostering teamwork
In the realm of collaboration, the distinction between geniuses who are takers and those who are givers can be profound. Takers often immerse themselves in their own achievements, seeking to maximize their contributions while minimizing those of others. They are preoccupied with credit and recognition, focusing on a personal track record of success, sometimes at the expense of their collaborators. This self-centered approach overlooks the reality that success is typically a team effort, and their preference for claiming the lion's share of credit can make them challenging partners.
Conversely, givers are the epitome of team players. They tend to understate their own roles and shine a light on the efforts of their colleagues. Givers embrace tasks that advance the group's objectives, even when these tasks don't offer them direct benefits. This approach is akin to "expedition behavior" in mountaineering, where the collective goal and empathy for team members are paramount. Givers are characterized by their generosity, selflessness, and commitment to the collective mission over individual accolades.
02Balancing giver's sacrifices
Understanding the advantages of being generous can lead to a paradigm shift towards seeking effective ways to balance the costs associated with such behavior. While being altruistic can enhance one's life, it also carries the risk of leading to burnout, decreased productivity, and potentially landing at the lower end of the success spectrum if not managed wisely. Astute and prosperous individuals who are generous know how to navigate these challenges. They ensure that their giving nature does not deplete their own resources or hinder their achievements. Instead, they adopt strategies that allow them to contribute to others while also maintaining their own well-being and success.
Preventing burnout
Human nature is propelled by two powerful forces: self-interest and compassion for others. The most successful individuals strike a balance between these forces, embodying an "otherish" approach. This means caring about benefiting others while also pursuing personal ambitions. Such a balance prevents the trap of giving excessively at the expense of one's own achievements, allowing for sustained success and avoiding burnout.
Jon huntsman sr., a billionaire who has donated over a billion dollars to charity, is a prime example of this approach. He famously honored a 1986 handshake deal despite a significant change in the asset's value and the buyer's offer to pay $98 million more. Huntsman's philosophy is that his wealth is a result of his generosity, not the cause of it. He believes his life's purpose is to help others, which drove him to gain a business education, establish a successful container company, and grow a differentiated chemicals corporation.
Scientific research corroborates the notion that giving to others not only boosts personal happiness and infuses life with meaning but also motivates individuals to work harder, enabling them to give more in the future. This cycle suggests that the more one gives, the more one is likely to earn.
Richard branson, the founder of the virgin group, resonates with this sentiment. He starts each day with the goal of making a difference and contributing to the future of our planet, which he believes is the key to his happiness and success. To adopt an "otherish" lifestyle and stave off job burnout, one can engage in various activities beyond financial charity. These include volunteering at local schools, creating mentoring programs for low-income families, pledging a portion of income to charity, meeting the beneficiaries of one's work, teaching across different demographics, focusing giving efforts for greater impact, volunteering at admired nonprofits, and consistently assisting overburdened colleagues or sharing expertise with newcomers or supervisors. Herbert simon, a nobel laureate in economics, posits that intelligent altruists, who are less altruistic than their unintelligent counterparts, are more fit than both unintelligent altruists and purely selfish individuals. Adam grant adds that selfless giving, without self-preservation, can be overwhelming. Thus, being "otherish" involves a willingness to give more than you receive while not losing sight of your own interests. When a concern for others is paired with a healthy concern for oneself, givers are less likely to experience burnout and are more likely to flourish.
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