The Future of K12 in the New World of Work
Pedro Martinez, Superintendent of Schools, San Antonio ISD; Constance Jones, CEO, Noble Schools; Phyllis Lockett, CEO, Leap Innovations; Kaya Henderson, Global Learning Lab, Teach for All
Moderator: Darienne Driver Hudson, President & CEO, United Way for Southeastern Michigan
Presentation of the K12 Innovator Award
Keynote: Adam Grant, Organizational Psychologist, The Wharton School of Business; Bestselling Author; Host: WorkLife, a TED Original Podcast
Givers Take All: Creating a Culture of Productive Generosity
Culture is a key component of success, but many leaders struggle in managing the cultures of their teams and organizations.
Based on a decade of research and consulting with Fortune 500 companies – including recent projects at JetBlue, Goldman Sachs, Teach For America, and Warby Parker – Adam Grant argues that the highest-performing organizations are the ones that embrace an ethos of knowledge sharing, helping, and mentoring. “The greatest untapped source of motivation is a sense of service to others; focusing on the contribution of our work to other people’s lives has the potential to make us more productive than thinking about helping ourselves,” he maintains.
In his New York Times bestselling book, Give and Take, Grant examines the way interpersonal behavior in the workplace can lead to success, depending on whether you’re a “giver” (generous, helpful), a “taker” (a me-first, dog-eat-dog type), or a “matcher” (trades favors evenly, quid pro quo).
“Givers succeed in a way that creates a ripple effect, enhancing the success of people around them,” he writes. “Giver success creates value, instead of just claiming it.”
In this dynamic presentation, Grant outlines the key strategies for building a culture of productive generosity. He urges companies to reward givers and get rid of takers, by making their reputation known to them and challenging them to new behavior. He also shares how leaders and organizations can improve practices around selection and hiring, recognition and rewards, and collaboration and coordination – to boost revenue, efficiency, and satisfaction.
