Are you a giver or a taker?
9,816,834 views | Adam Grant • TED@IBM
In every workplace, there are three basic kinds of people: givers, takers and matchers. Organizational psychologist Adam Grant breaks down these personalities and offers simple strategies to promote a culture of generosity and keep self-serving employees from taking more than their share.
In every workplace, there are three basic kinds of people: givers, takers and matchers. Organizational psychologist Adam Grant breaks down these personalities and offers simple strategies to promote a culture of generosity and keep self-serving employees from taking more than their share.
This talk was presented at a TED Institute event given in partnership with IBM. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.
Read more about the TED Institute.About the speaker
One of Adam Grant’s guiding principles is to argue like he's right and listen like he's wrong.
Adam Grant – Viking, 2013 | Book
Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success
My talk builds on the ideas in this book. It’s about how we can succeed in ways that lift others up, instead of cutting them down.
Mark Chussil | Harvard Business Review, 2016 | Article
"Keep a List of Unethical Things You’ll Never Do"
Keep a List of Unethical Things You’ll Never Do
Mark Chussil
“You have a to-do list, but if you want to avoid becoming a taker, you should also keep a to-don’t list.”
Mark Chussil
“You have a to-do list, but if you want to avoid becoming a taker, you should also keep a to-don’t list.”
Bob Sutton | Warner Business, 2007 | Book
The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn’t
There’s a more vulgar name for disagreeable takers—and this is how to get rid of them and defend against them.
Paul Bloom | Boston Review, 2014 | Article
"Against Empathy"
Empathy isn’t necessary for generosity. You don’t have to feel others’ emotions; you just need to care about them.
Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson | Harcourt, 2007 | Book
Mistakes Were Made (But Not By Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts
Why our egos ruin everything, and what to do about it.
Liz Wiseman | HarperBusiness, 2010 | Book
Multipliers
How leaders can stop diminishing others and start bringing out the best in them.
Adam Grant | The New York Times, 2015 | Article
"The One Question You Should Ask About Every New Job"
My favorite way to figure out whether you’re about to join a culture of givers or takers.
Adam Grant | The New York Times, 2014 | Article
"Raising a Moral Child"
What I’ve learned about teaching generosity to kids.
Adam Grant and Sheryl Sandberg | The New York Times, 2015 | Article
"Madam C.E.O., Get Me a Coffee"
Women do more helping but get less credit. It’s time to fix that.
Adam Grant | The New York Times, 2016 | Article
"Why We Should Stop Grading Students on a Curve"
Grading curves undermine learning, relationships, and future success. Here’s the new system I’ve tested to build a culture of giving in my classes.
Learn more
About TED Institute
Every year, TED works with a group of select companies and foundations to identify internal ideators, inventors, connectors, and creators. Drawing on the same rigorous regimen that has prepared speakers for the TED main stage, TED Institute works closely with each partner, overseeing curation and providing intensive one-on-one talk development to sharpen and fine tune ideas. The culmination is an event produced, recorded, and hosted by TED, generating a growing library of valuable TED Talks that can spur innovation and transform organizations.
This talk was presented at a TED Institute event given in partnership with IBM. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.
Read more about the TED Institute.