Gözde Yeşiltaş's Key Ideas from Give and Take
by Adam Grant

Takers undermine trust and credibility

Givers build reputational capital

Success often depends on how others perceive your intent

Givers win when reputation aligns with contribution

Action: Be visible with your impact, not your intent

Givers ask thoughtful, high-quality questions

Advice-seeking can empower others and build trust

Strategic giving enhances influence

Action: Use giving as a tool for learning and connection

Ask for advice to engage others meaningfully

Givers use powerless communication to win

• Powerless doesn’t mean weak—it signals trustworthiness

• Listening well can lead to influence

• Vulnerability and humility can be strategic

• Action: Practice asking questions more than giving answers

Takers burn bridges; Givers build alliances

Collaboration works best when driven by genuine generosity

Givers elevate team performance

Action: Encourage and reward givers in your network

Create systems that discourage exploitation

Burnout comes from giving without boundaries

Selfless Givers often suffer

Successful Givers are other-ish, not selfless

Protect your time, energy, and emotional bandwidth

Action: Say “yes” selectively; specialize in giving areas that energize you

Givers redefine success beyond individual wins

Purpose and meaning matter more than prestige

Givers inspire others by elevating group goals

Action: Align giving with core values and long-term purpose

Cultures and systems must support giving to thrive

Organizations with giver cultures outperform others

Reward systems should recognize helpfulness and collaboration

Action: Build peer-recognition and feedback loops

Promote role models who give wisely and effectively