Who are the care-givers among your staff? The ones who have a quiet word, are a gentle support in times of challenge, who might remember (or organise) birthday cakes, or check in around sick parents, or a range of other small gestures that make schools into communities. And then we have the professional givers, who are happy to share resources, their thoughts on a challenge, or back your new idea.
This might be you. This might be someone other than you, and we all take our turn. The message for this month’s newsletter is to notice and appreciate these wonderful people, for they are essential to staff cultures that promote wellbeing. Adam Grant, organisational psychologist and Wharton Professor, speaks of ‘givers’, ‘takers’ and ‘matchers’ in workplaces. In brief, givers proactively help others, matchers have a keeping tabs, trading evenly attitude, and takers are self-protective and in it for what they can gain.
Grant’s research shows that while most people are matchers, givers are the overall winners, and can experience a wide range of success. He shares two further categories – selfless givers, and ‘otherish’ givers. The former may give to the point of self-sacrifice, but otherish givers keep an eye on their own priorities too, and can ask for support, "which enables them to marshal the advice, assistance, and resources necessary to maintain their motivation and energy" (p. 157).
Our takeaway here – giving can be a constructive, healthy and satisfying way to work, and can be especially worthwhile in term 4. ‘Paying it forward’ can be one way to start, whether it’s yourself, your team, or your school.
Watch and read for more:
References:
Grant, A. (2014). Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success. Penguin Publishing Group.
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