We have often been told that smart people get ahead, and those with too much kindness finish last in the competitive corporate game of snakes and ladder. But surprisingly, that may not be true.
Nice people have a better chance of getting ahead, and when they succeed, it is permanent. Not some temporary achievement, which puts them at the risk of falling again. But how does this work? How being a Giver puts you on a leverage over others?
Who Are The Givers?
The workplace can easily be divided into two sets of people, the givers and takers. Takers are the ones who take all the credit for a project, they are the ones who put out blame for any mistake, but are the first to hit limelight when they feel success around the corner. Givers help others without thinking of repayment, or whether they already owe the person a favour. They cover shifts for colleagues, take notes in team meetings, finish a presentation in time when their colleague is busy.
Image Credit: cnbc
The problem with Giving is that it backfires if you don’t do it smartly. When being kind interferes with your own performance, then Giving can lead to a back set. But done smartly, Giving can actually give you a leverage, because it puts the team on your side, opens many opportunities, widens a trustworthy network, and generally facilitates your work goals.
So, how can you be a smart Giver?
Concentrate On Adding Value
You don’t have to keep helping people with rhetorics. Instead, help in a way that adds value to a project. For instance, if a colleague is doing something that is time-consuming, help him build a system that will save time to arrive at the same results. In this way, value addition sets you apart. Value addition is some or the other sort makes you a smart Giver.
It Is Fine To Ask For Help
Takers take help and then don’t give credit. Instead, as a Giver, you can ask for assistance, and then give due credit for the help received. This circle of help can improve the performance of the team, and also help the people to learn something from each other.
Shabbir Hussain, Co-founder and Creative Head at Hats Off, says, “Giving is actually like building bridges, a bridge that takes you across skills, knowledge, guidance. This bridge not only helps others but also helps you move ahead.”
Hence, being a Giver can actually help you grow professionally.
