It may seem as if the only way to advance in business and the workplace is to stick your noses to the grindstone and concentrate entirely on yourself. Despite this common assumption, the contrary is true. Being kind and seeking assistance in the job results in faster promotions, more money, and a more fulfilling lifestyle. A comprehensive idea has been developed around this notion, which has become known as the "Reciprocity Ring."
What is a Reciprocity Ring?
Professor Wayne Baker, a sociologist at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, and his wife Cheryl Baker, CEO of Humax, invented the reciprocity ring idea. It is based on the principle of generalized reciprocity, a very effective method of spreading appreciation.
Reciprocity rings happen when a person gets assistance from another, but instead of repaying the person who assisted them, they assist another or "pay it forward." Considering the "Kidney Chain" can be a great example.
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In 2009, Matt Jones of Michigan wanted to give a kidney to a complete stranger just for the sake of doing so. Barbara, a Phoenix resident, was terminally ill with renal illness. Jones' kidney was instrumental in saving her life. Ron, her husband, would have given one of his kidneys to her, but their blood types were incompatible. He was, however, so appreciative that he gave one of his kidneys to another stranger, whose folks were similarly appreciative. And so, it continued to grow into the world's longest-running transplant chain, transforming the lives of twenty individuals.
How does the Reciprocity Ring Work?
The simple act of assisting someone drives the individual receiving assistance to assist others. He examined two mechanisms for encouraging generalized reciprocity in his work, "Paying it Forward vs Rewarding Reputation: Mechanisms of Generalized Reciprocity." One method was to reward reputation, which means that peers watch one another inside their organization, assisting those who assist others and refusing to assist those who do not.
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The second way was the "pay it forward" mechanism, which happens organically when members of an organization assist third parties only as a result of their own assistance. Baker discovered that paying people based on their reputation had a bigger and longer-lasting impact than rewarding those based on their generosity. Thus, the most durable method of promoting widespread reciprocity is to foster a "pay it forward" mentality. Paying it forward is a natural process, but it requires a catalyst. This catalyst may take the shape of activities such as a reciprocity ring, a planned and led activity that can get things started.
How Can Reciprocity Ring Improve an Organization?
While all sorts of organizations may benefit from the Reciprocity Ring, tiny groups stand to gain the most from it. The ideal groups will have a maximum of 25 members. If a request is not completed, it may be sent to bigger or other groups within the organization.
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Another critical function of a reciprocity ring is to help individuals overcome their anxiety of asking for assistance. They are fearful of seeming weak and often greatly misjudge how ready others are to assist. According to studies, respondents overestimated by 50% the number of people they planned to approach in order to get a particular amount of agreement to a request.
Additionally, the researchers discovered that orally requesting a favour was more successful than passing out a leaflet with an identical request. As a consequence of the introduction of the reciprocity ringStudents exploited their newfound contacts and resources to organize managing groups for employees looking to brush up on finance, mock interview groups in preparation for recruiting, etc.
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When researchers see how helpful individuals can be, they gain confidence in their ability to assist others. Since the exercise, individuals have helped their peers when necessary. For these reasons, organizations should make every effort to foster an inquiring culture. Additionally, such an approach might assist businesses in addressing gender imbalances. According to Linda Babcock of Carnegie Mellon University, males are more inclined than women to ask for what they want. Equalizing the playing field via a universal "asking" culture may encourage women to go forward.
A reciprocity ring may be a low-cost approach of identifying undiscovered resources and connecting the many connections between workers and other stakeholders for the ever-leaner organization and those confronted with new problems and possibilities. Reciprocity is about both providing and receiving assistance, and organizations are using reciprocity rings to tap into the different resources and generosity available to them.
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An Example of Reciprocity Ring: Real Scenario
In organizations, the activity may provide realized values ranging from $150,000 to $480,000. Hodge adapts the activity to EMBA career development in order to assist students in honing their networking skills. It begins with each EMBA student submitting a request to the board. The other students attentively listen to the student at the front of the class, ponder how they or someone they know may help, and scribble down their potential contribution on a piece of paper.
After all students have described their demands, they step up one by one to discuss their prospective offers of aid. They compare their contribution notes to the request notes written on a board by each kid. Finally, each student is responsible for following up on support offered in order to get their desire honored.
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Conclusion
When a group comes together with the intention of giving, the manacles of perception are lifted and replaced with a benevolent disposition. According to research, almost 90% of all giving exchanges at work occur in response to a direct request for assistance. Because the Reciprocity Ring's culture encourages giving, it reduces the inhibition to give.