Colleagues Listened Quote by Adam M. Grant
““when takers presented suggestions for improvement, colleagues were skeptical of their intentions, writing them off as self-serving. But when ideas that might be threatening were proposed by givers, their colleagues listened and rewarded them for speaking up, knowing they were motivated by a genuine desire to contribute.””
About This Quote
Source Article: Give and Take, Adam Grant, 2013
People trust ideas that seem altruistic more than those that appear self‑interested, even if the content is similar.
In simple terms: Altruistic framing boosts credibility.
Key Takeaway
Present ideas as helping others.
Themes
trust
communication
leadership
Mood
cautious
optimistic
Type
advisory
observational
When to use this quote
- team meetings
- project proposals
- performance reviews
- innovation workshops
Key Concepts
social perception
motivation
bias
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you signal genuine intent?
- What cues reveal hidden agendas?
A Different Perspective
If the idea is truly self‑serving, the trust can backfire.
