Giver, Taker or Matcher - Which Are You?

According to Adam Grant, there are three kinds of people: givers, takers and matchers. Each of these three personality types plays an important role in determining the dynamics in the office. Your status as a giver, matcher or taker can also help to predict how successful you are likely to be in your career.

According to Grant, who is author of the book "Give and Take" and a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, givers go out of their way to help others, while takers try to get as much as they can from those around them. Matchers, on the other hand, take a more balanced approach to their interactions with others. They always return favors, but likewise, they expect others to do the same and can become quite annoyed with people who don't reciprocate.

There is no clear answer to the question of which personality types are most successful in their careers. Surprisingly, takers don't necessarily perform best, as they are punished by matchers for their selfishness. According to Grant, matchers hate nothing more than watching a taker take advantage of others and are determined to put a stop to it.

Grant claims that givers are over-represented at both ends of the spectrum; while some givers consistently achieve the lowest grades in the class and perform worst at work, a few givers spectacularly outperform other personality types and have extremely successful careers. According to Grant, being a giver can accelerate your career, as long as you manage your generosity carefully.

In "Give and Take," Grant recommends specializing in "five-minute favors" — quick and easy things that you can do to help out other people, without sacrificing too much of your own time and energy. If a taker doesn't reciprocate your favor, then you haven't lost much, but your actions show other personality types that you are a generous person.

Having a matcher who is in your debt can be extremely useful in a professional career. Calling in favors is an important part of professional networking, particularly when you are looking for a new position. If you know that a matcher owes you one, then don't be shy about calling him up and asking him to introduce you to the hiring manager in his organization. People with this personality type are great at helping out those who have helped them in the past. Don't apologize for the favor, as this can make it seem like a bigger deal than it really is; simply ask for what you need with confidence.

Although givers, takers and matchers operate in very different ways, all three personality types can be successful in their careers. The key to success is to know when to be generous and when to call in favors from people who can help you achieve your professional goals.

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