Teamwork Tuesdays — Adam Grant: Givers vs Takers and Matchers
Adam Grant is an organizational psychologist at University of Pennsylvania and author of several best-selling books, including “Give and Take.” His research focuses on what makes teams effective and cultures thrive. One of his most quoted lines on teamwork is: “The most meaningful way to succeed is to help others succeed.” Grant’s research shows that the highest-performing teams aren’t built on talent alone — they’re built on a culture of contribution. In strong cultures, people don’t just ask, “How do I win?” They ask, “How do WE win?” He distinguishes between givers , takers , and matchers . Takers look for personal advantages and want more than they give. Matchers trade evenly and give back what they get. Givers look for ways to add value to others — making the people and teams around them better. Givers aren’t doormats. Grant is clear: successful givers set boundaries. They protect their time and energy. But they show up ready, they do their job with excellence and integr...