The San Francisco Chronicle interviews Adam Grant, whose new book Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success. Grant advocates a pay it forward approach to helping co-workers, especially those who are junior, and argues that this approach leads to greater success for the giver. He also talks about how he has seen this work at Google.
Q: How do you do it? How do you manage your time, the requests and the demands it takes to be a giver?
A: I try to incorporate the things I've learned in my research into my own life. One of the biggest things is asking the question, "Am I capable of helping uniquely in this situation?" I will help with the ones where I can add value that other people can't, if I have a unique expertise or connection. I (also) try to ask other people to participate, who are in a better position to help.