EPISODE 41 (50) GIVER NOT A TAKER - why giving out is more effective than taking out

Andrew starts today's broadcast by explaining that success depends on how you interact with other people.  When you do that, you also have a choice.  Do you try to get as much as possible from the connection?  That is, you're a Taker. Or do you contribute value without worrying about what you receive back?  That is, are you a Giver? 

 It’s tempting, says Andrew ,to be a Taker.  As a Taker, you expect to get more than you give.  You are likely to see the world as a competitive, dog-eat-dog place.  To succeed, you must excel and prove your competence.

 Naturally, Takers get good at self-promotion and always extract the most credits possible from their efforts.  Nor does this mean you are always entirely selfish.  Instead, you can justify being a Taker as you're merely being cautious and self-protective:  “If I don’t look out for myself first, no one else will.”

Next, Andrew asks: Why waste your precious energy on being a Giver or a Taker? You don’t have to become one or the other. There is a third way---to become a Matcher. 

 Matchers keep a balance between giving and getting. What drives them is the principle of fairness.  For them, work relationships are a mix of giving and taking. It's an exchange of favours:  “You do this, and I’ll do that.”   As a Matcher, when you help others you expect something in return.  Being a Giver gives you an excellent chance to reach the top of an organisation.  Yet some Givers become stuck down in the dungeons of an organisation because they always say "yes". 

Their "yes" comes at the expense of their work. It affects their time management, project delivery, communication, and execution in general. 

Instead, it makes more sense to be a Smart Giver. That's someone who thinks about what’s best for the organisation, not just what’s best for you or only for the person asking for help.  All 50 Ways podcasts end with three actions you can take today to do better. COMING SOON!

• High Maintenance---being hard to manage at work is short-sighted.
• Assignment addict:---never refuse an assignment.
• Feedback friendly---dealing well with negative feedback.

Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version. Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow-through material which you can find for each episode at

www.myhappinessatwork.com/reading/categories/research-reading

and

www.myhappinessatwork.com/watch. BOOK: The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts. It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years. Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.

www.myhappinessatwork.com/book