Question

This chapter described studies that show that people work harder and better for managers who put the interests of others above their own. Why might this happen? Do you believe being more of a “giver” than a “taker” will translate into greater career success for these managers? Discuss.

Answer 1

People work hard for those managers who keep the interests of others above their own because they start believing that the manager is nurturing them and they understand their employees. It needs to be understood in this way, if someone listens to our problem or even tries to show concern we start respecting those people and if this is done from the side of a manager it creates an environment of mutual trust and understanding. The great managers are the one who understands your strengths and weaknesses, listens to your story and believes that no one is perfect.

Today’s competitive environment provides a very little space for errors and every organization expects from its employees that they will always perform their best, in reality this is tough and it requires an understanding manager who will provide its employees with the space where they can make mistakes and learn.

Keeping others interest above yours makes the position of a manager high, the employees start respecting and listening to him which will evolve the manager as a leader and that is the place where your employees too will start understanding a managers concern and working hard for him.

A mutually understanding relationship creates a great working environment which has the capacity to lead organization to success.

I believe that being more of a “giver” than a “taker” can lead these managers to a greater career success but these managers need to keep a few things in mind such as dropping everything of their own while becoming a giver can hurt the manager’s individual performance and this will definitely prove to be problematic. Also showing a lot of empathy for the employees will only create problems in future and it will make the managers vulnerable to risk of being manipulated by shrewd takers.

It is a understood in the organizations that people wants to get their work done by others and if you are always ready and present to help others it will leave your own tasks in danger while others will enjoy the reputation of completing their work efficiently you will be left with lot of work and no one to help.

The managers who are "givers" definitely have a great chance of success and a great career ahead but they need to make a balance between their own work and helping others, going too forward to help and helping every now and then on every call is not a great way to establish yourself in the organization, it will raise the bar of expectation of people from you and thus leaving you vulnerable.