Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all. —Sam Ewing
Are you doing most of the heavy lifting? Reciprocity of effort is what makes the world of work, work. It’s the essence of building positive professional relationships and encouraging cooperation. Simple enough, right? We expect reciprocity in getting the job done. There are also those small subtleties that are “not in the job description” such as a cheerful “good morning”, the offer to bring the pastries or refilling the coffee maker even when no one is looking. More powerful is the simple “thank you” or “well done” to a colleague or a subordinate. This kind of reciprocity costs nothing, yet these are the little things that can make or break a work environment.