Employees can decide whether to act like givers or takers.

• When they act like givers, they contribute without looking for anything in turn, such as offering assistance, sharing knowledge, or making valuable introductions.
• When they act as takers

1. Takers are the ones using every opportunity to advance their own agenda. They can ruin you if left unchecked. These people act as if they deserve your help, and try to impose on your time.
2. Matchers are tit for tat traders, who expect reciprocity. L...

Organizational psychologist Adam Grant lays out three key reciprocation styles found in the workplace:

• Takers see the world as a hypercompetitive rat race. Since they assume that no one else will look out for them, they place their own interests first and last.