Generosity

An executive with great skill at developing others and forming productive teams worried, “But this is a bit fluffy isn’t it?” Grant and Berg find that employees who are pro-socially motivated take initiative, persist in meaningful tasks, help others, enhance the well-being of others, perform better at work, and have more energy. So why do people think these skills are fluffy?

Adam Grant’s new book, Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success, dispels the myth that nice guys are underachievers. Grant examines three styles of social interaction: Giving, Taking and Matching. He provides the research to support the positive impact and benefits of giving. Despite our instinct to take or match in competitive atmospheres, the data show that givers rise to the top.