HOT READS FOR THE PRACTITIONER
Title: The Joys and Frustrations of Giving
Competencies: self-development, managing self, achievement orientation, leadership
Who benefits: all readers
Consultant Usage: much of this book addresses issues of networking … which is the life blood of external consultants and of some importance to internal consultants
What’s it about? This week and next I shall review two new books about Money (with a big M) … but not using traditional definitions. I will be upfront with you. Today’s book is very good and I urge you to get a hold of it and read it. But next week’s book is exceptional and an absolute must read. So IF you have to choose ….
Today’s book is Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success. It is written by Adam Grant, an extraordinarily popular professor in organization psychology at Wharton (University of Pennsylvania). Students line up for hours preceding his office hours. He’s the Pop-Star Professor.
Before telling you a little about the book, let me tell you a little about the context. First, I am actually writing the review the day of its release (April 9, 2013). It is already a best seller. It is #1, #2, #3 in in three Amazon categories. People can’t wait for this book and there is a good reason why (see review below). It addition, the book is being endorsed by Who’s Who in the fields of leadership, motivation (if that is a field) and economics. Those whom I highly admire who have given their enthusiastic endorsement include Bob Sutton (leadership), Daniel Pink (motivation) and Dan Ariely (behavioral economics). The list is much longer.
Now about the book: It is a book centered on reciprocity. Grant divides us all into three very different kinds of people (1) Givers, (2) Matchers, and (3) Takers.
Givers give without expectations. They are never too busy to help others. They give without expectations of immediate gains. They share credit and mentor freely.
Matchers keep score. They give when they see they can get something back that matches in value what they have given. Hope you won’t feel insulted, but most of us fall into the Matcher category.
Takers, well you know them. They are easy to spot. They operate from “What’s in it for me†(WIIFM). They play win-lose. They devote considerable time and effort in managing up … and are extremely protective of their territory.
Now here is what makes the book really interesting. Who among these three are the most successful? The answer is a split decision with Givers occupying both ends of the Success Spectrum. Givers tend to end up as burned-out doormats or star leaders.
The book proceeds to focuses on the star leaders. What does giving have to do with leadership? Apparently a lot. Star Givers balance concern for others with self-interest. They are strategic in their giving. They give strategically to other Givers and to Matchers and avoid the Takers. They give in ways that create strong social relationships, bonds, and loyalty. They serve as inspiration to others. People want to perform well for Star Givers.
I think the early sales success of the book is because so many of us have something within ourselves to give to others, but haven’t focused on it and don’t really know how. This book tells you how.
If you don’t have time for the book or would like to know more about Adam Grant the person and how he personally finds time to walk-the-talk, there is a terrific article in the New York Times Magazine called Is Giving the Secret to Getting Ahead? On the left hand side of the article, a few paragraphs down, is a 4 minute video interview with Adam Grant that is a good summary (you can avoid the main nonsensical video at the top of the page).
Or you can find more at his website GiveAndTake.com including his latest videos , a just published Harvard Business Review article and other recent articles, and a survey to find out which of these three categories is you!
Catch you later.
Bill Bradley
Bill Bradley (mostly) retired after 35 years in organizational consulting, training and management development. During those years he worked internally with seven organizations and trained and consulted externally with more than 90 large and small businesses, government agencies, hospitals and schools.
