A recent study suggests that holding back expressions of support may be detrimental to your career. It concluded with three main takeaways:

  • The person amplifying an idea benefits from that action
  • The person whose idea was amplified benefits equally
  • The results are consistent for men and women

This tells us that amplification is a win-win situation, regardless of the identity of those involved.

Deeper analysis revealed even more interesting features. Those who amplified ideas from others were seen as being of higher status than those who:

  • were quiet
  • promoted their own ideas
  • contributed other ideas

These results are less surprising. Those who do not speak up are commonly regarded as less capable, while shameless self-promotion is a widely disliked trait. The most unexpected revelation of this trio was that contributing an original, parallel idea does not garner the same accolades as elevating one already on the table.

Regarding the ideas themselves, those that were amplified were regarded as being of higher quality than ideas that were not independently promoted in that manner. This is consistent with other cross-board research that substantiates how and why we value social proof. Having someone familiar endorse a product, service, or idea automatically gives it an inherent positive weight.

These results were consistent and independent of whether the ideas were framed positively (focused on improving an aspect) or negatively (focused on preventing a problem from arising).

Collaboration is King

This research is groundbreaking for the way it upends corporate culture. It flies in the face of the dog-eats-dog world of incessant competition, where individuals are loath to highlight colleagues’ ideas for fear that they might detract or distract from their own.

If nothing else, these findings have set the foundation for increased collaboration, cooperative progress, and a kinder workplace. They show us that giving someone a hand elevates you despite your not having contributed to the idea itself.

Armed with this knowledge, you can build a strong network of colleagues both senior and junior to you. This meshed, interconnected, and interdependent unit can work to promote shared ideas and perspectives, together changing the direction of the organization—and perhaps, ultimately, even the industry.

Please contact me today if you would like to further discuss ways to promote effective communication in your organization.