WHY HELPING OTHERS DRIVES OUR SUCCESS It’s no secret that the path to success has traditionally been built on personal attributes of power, virtue and accomplishments. Adam Grant’s Give and Take offers an alternative outlook on what it means to be successful. He demonstrates how giving more to others, rather than competing against them, can drive our own success and fulfilment. My understanding of the notion of success changed for the better since I studied Psychology and I gained a true appreciation for the need to help others. Here are some of my learnings from Give and Take that reinforced the realization on how good is to be a giver. Globalization and interconnectedness Takers are self-centered and focus only on what benefits they can get from others, while givers are driven by the desire to help others and create success for the group. It occurred to me that in today’s interconnected world, we have no choice but to help each other to elevate our own positions as individuals as well as the team of which we are part. The greater good Givers often achieve the top positions in society because they focus on the greater good. They cultivate and use their vast networks to benefit others as well as themselves. Success, therefore, is a far larger phenomenon than I had previously imagined. Rather than attaching a quantifiable measure, or status to the notion of success, its reach is limitless and more powerful when shared amongst society.
Talent and reputation Persistent takers lose respect and damage their reputations. The opposite is true of givers who see potential in everyone they meet, making them formidable at finding and nurturing talent. From a business perspective, reputational damage can be irreparable and that the ability to nurture talent can contribute to long-term future success. What I found abundantly clear is that givers are only successful if they can avoid burnout and avoid being abused by takers. Networking and Acts of Kindness Research shows that kindness can make a huge difference in people’s everyday work experience. Kindness improves emotional and physical wellbeing. Kindness increases your mood and energy levels. When performing an act of kindness, hormones called serotonin and oxytocin gets released. Showing kindness and helping others actually makes you more likely to become successful. Kindness at work is contagious, we should promote random acts of kindness in the workplace. Scan QR Code to get FREE Give and Take: WHY HELPING OTHERS DRIVES OUR SUCCESS Book.