Squiggly Careers Squiggly Shortcut: Give to Gain - The Career Strategy Nobody Talks About
Mar 5, 2026
A quick guide to relationship-building through generosity and reciprocity. Research-backed ideas on why giving makes connections less awkward. Three simple, practical ways to offer value using your praised strengths, personal experiences, or specific skills. Actionable tips for making helpful offers that feel genuine rather than transactional.
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Give To Gain Builds Stronger Career Relationships
- Give to Gain works because giving is mentally easier and creates stronger relationships than starting with what you can get.
- Helen explains helpers' high and reciprocity, citing Adam Grant's research on how generosity leads others to help you back.
Offer What People Already Praise You For
- Reflect on what people already recommend you for and offer that skill proactively in relevant situations.
- Helen uses her own feedback—creating energy and clarity—as examples she now spots and offers when useful.
You Usually Have More To Give Than You Think
- People often silence themselves because they can't see what they have to give, not because they lack value.
- Helen urges listeners to use received feedback as 'fuel' to recognise natural strengths they can offer.
