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The Law of Reciprocity
The Law of Reciprocity
December 22, 2009
From: Eikenberry, K. (2007). Remarkable leadership: unleashing your leadership potential one skill at a time. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
The law of reciprocity can be stated as, 'You reap what you sow,' that is, you will get back what you give. When you smile and are pleasant to people all day long, blessings come back to you. Although the benefits may not be direct or immediate, you can trust that they will come, but you must start the process for the Law to work.
How does that relate to networking? Focus on helping the other person first. Give him or her a connection or an idea, or offer a helping hand. As you do this, your credibility is increased: people begin to trust you more and want to help you in return. The law of reciprocity isn't about keeping score. In fact, if you try to keep score, you are missing the point. Give to others, look for ways to help and be of service, and trust that more will come back to you (Eikenberry, 2007, p. 98-99).
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Created: 2010-01-14, Updated: 2010-01-14
