Sustainable Excellence Xtras #70 - Givers With David Dunn

It's been said that the world is made up of two types of people, givers and takers.

But most organizations today pride themselves on the collaborative environment they have established. They want to employ people who will work within a group and contribute their knowledge and expertise for the betterment of the team, not the individual.

I recently read the book, Give and Take, by Adam Grant. Grant defines people as either takers, givers, or matchers.

Takers - These people favor receiving more than giving. It is a zero-sum game for them. Therefore in order for them to be successful, someone else must fail. They are all about calling attention to themselves so that everyone can see the success of the project was a direct result of the effort they made.

Givers - These people like giving more than receiving. When the advantages to others outweigh their own importance,  they make the extra effort to ensure others succeed.

Matchers - These people find the balance between taking and giving. They engage in a quid pro quo style of participation and try to find an equilibrium between giving and taking.

Overall, givers tend to be more successful than takers or matchers. These individuals are people of good character who do what they say they will do when they say it will get done. If they are unable to complete a task on time, they let others know why the job won't be finished and when they can expect to have it completed. They are dependable, reliable, and trustworthy. 

Unfortunately, givers are a rare breed these days. So if you are a supervisor who has someone on your team who is willing to sacrifice their glory for the betterment of the group, you should recognize them at every opportunity for their efforts.

Check out the video below about stories David Dunn tells in his book, Try Giving Yourself Away, regarding the importance of executives who are givers and how that positively impacts their team and the organization.

Also, please leave me a comment about your thoughts on givers, takers, and matchers in your group or organization.