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Imagine if more of us were more generous at our jobs — a place where many of us spend a sizable chunk of our day? What would the effects be in other spheres of our lives? Organizational psychologist Adam Grant’s newest book Give and Take discusses motivation, workplace altruism, and personal success.

Grant’s main argument is that the greatest untapped source of motivation is a “sense of service to others” that enables us to focus on the impact of our work on the lives of others — which can even include an act as simple as responding to an email from a coworker.

“Givers motivate themselves to avoid complacency by focusing on the benefits to others if they succeed and worrying about disappointing them if they fail,” Grant writes.

Give and Take designates three categories for personal motivation: givers, matchers and takers. “Givers” are the most altruistic, and do not expect to gain anything in return for serving others. “Matchers” identify opportunities for reciprocity when they help another. “Takers” are generous solely for personal gain. Most people tested fall into the “matcher” category.

A New York Times article about the book summarizes: “The most successful givers are those who rate high in concern for others but also in self-interest. And they are strategic in their giving — they give to other givers and matchers, so that their work has the maximum desired effect; they are cautious about giving to takers; they give in ways that reinforce their social ties; and they consolidate their giving into chunks, so that the impact is intense enough to be gratifying.”

A major point of the book is that helping others is the key to success and personal fulfillment, but Grant’s research provides a great reminder that we should be giving in all aspects of our lives. How can you begin, right now, to be more generous with simple acts throughout your day?

Photo courtesy The New York Times, photograph by Art Streiber. Set design: Fi Campbell and Tam Reid/Stillsets. Clothing stylist: Vanessa Shokrian.

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