My husband is a public speaker and he often opens up his talks with the statement, "I am in a perfect marriage of give and take. I give and my wife takes!" People always roar with laughter but once the laughter has died down, we are forced to really think about the whole idea of people who are givers and others who are takers. What makes them different.

A very senior manager once told me that a new staff member was a "high maintenace" person. Not being very conversant with organizational behavior language, I asked him to explain to me what that meant. He told me in plain language that that particular employee took a lot of time from other employees in order for them to function well. They needed constant guidance and had to literally be told what to do step by step. They were afraid of making mistakes and paranoid about what others thought of them at any one given time. Everything was about them and how others could facilitate them in order to be productive. Needless to say, the company was putting in more than it was getting out of this employee. Unfortunately such employees often do not have a long history with their employers. To be labelled a "taker" is certainly not a complement!

On the other hand there are individuals who always "add" to their surroundings wherever they are. They not only exude confidence but are always looking to see how they can improve their environments and leave it a better place than they found it. They do not spend their time talking about themselves but are instead interested in other people. They are good listeners and are willing give their time to be part of the solution to problems. They are a joy to be around and often have a long history with employers. They are sought after by many personnel managers! To be called a "giver" is a great complement!

Learn more about this author, Nellie Shani.
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