You should never help anyone else at work, and just focus on yourself, researchers say
Most of us quietly pat ourselves on the back when we offer a helping hand to colleagues – perhaps those a bit younger, or less able than ourselves.
But maybe you shouldn’t be doing it at all – and should look out for number one, Harvard researchers suggest.
Dr Adam Grant of the University of Pennsylvania says that helping others can damage your own career prospects and leave you prone to exhaustion – known as ‘generosity burnout’.
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Dr Grant reviewed several pieces of research in the Harvard Business Review – and found that people who were particularly ‘giving’ could be less productive long term.
Dr Grant and research Reb Rebele wrote, ‘Although givers are the most valuable people in organizations, they’re also at the greatest risk for burnout.
‘When they don’t protect themselves, their investments in others can cause them to feel overloaded and fatigued, fall behind in their work goals, and face more stress and conflict at home.’
