In 'Friend & Foe,' Adam Galinsky and Maurice Schweitzer explore the intricate dynamics of competition and collaboration in human relationships. The authors reveal how understanding the dual roles of friends and foes can empower individuals to navigate social interactions more effectively. Through engaging stories and innovative research, they demonstrate that cooperation and conflict can coexist in surprising ways. Readers are challenged to rethink their approach to alliances and adversaries, uncovering strategies to turn rivals into allies. This thought-provoking book invites us to reconsider the nature of relationships and the potential for transformation within them.
By Adam Galinsky, Maurice Schweitzer
Published: 2015
"In the dance of collaboration and competition, our greatest allies can often be our fiercest rivals."
What does it take to succeed? This question has fueled a long-running debate. Some have argued that humans are fundamentally competitive, and that pursuing self-interest is the best way to get ahead. Others claim that humans are born to cooperate and that we are most successful when we collaborate with others. In FRIEND AND FOE, researchers Galinsky and Schweitzer explain why this debate misses the mark. Rather than being hardwired to compete or cooperate, we have evolved to do both. In every relationship, from co-workers to friends to spouses to siblings we are both friends and foes. It is only by learning how to strike the right balance between these two forces that we can improve our long-term relationships and get more of what we want. Here, Galinsky and Schweitzer draw on original, cutting edge research from their own labs and from across the social sciences as well as vivid real-world examples to show how to maximize success in work and in life by deftly navigating the tension between cooperation and competition. They offer insights and advice ranging from: how to gain power and keep it, how to build trust and repair trust once it’s broken, how to diffuse workplace conflict and bias, how to find the right comparisons to motivate us and make us happier, and how to succeed in negotiations – ensuring that we achieve our own goals and satisfy those of our counterparts. Along the way, they pose and offer surprising answers to a number of perplexing puzzles: when does too much talent undermine success; why can acting less competently gain you status and authority, where do many gender differences in the workplace really come from, how can you use deception to build trust, and why do you want to go last on American Idol and in many interview situations, but make the first offer when negotiating the sale of a new car. We perform at our very best when we hold cooperation and competition in the right balance. This book is a guide for navigating our social and professional worlds by learning when to cooperate as a friend and when to compete as a foe—and how to be better at both.
Adam Galinsky is a distinguished author, renowned for his groundbreaking research in social psychology and its implications for leadership, negotiation, and creativity. He has contributed significantly to the understanding of how social dynamics influence individual and group behavior. Notable works include 'Friend & Foe: When to Cooperate, When to Compete, and How to Succeed at Both,' co-authored with Maurice Schweitzer, which explores the complexities of human interaction in competitive contexts, and 'The Power of Perspective: How to Improve Your Thinking and Communication.' Galinsky's writing style is characterized by its clarity, insight, and practical applications, making complex psychological concepts accessible to a broad audience.
Maurice Schweitzer is a distinguished author and professor known for his insightful exploration of human behavior and decision-making. His notable works include 'The Science of Trust: Emotional Attunement for Couples' and 'The Game of Trust: The Role of Trust in Decision Making'. Schweitzer's writing often combines rigorous research with real-world applications, reflecting his academic background in organizational behavior and his deep understanding of interpersonal dynamics. He is widely recognized for his engaging narrative style, which makes complex psychological concepts accessible to a broad audience.
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“In the dance of collaboration and competition, our greatest allies can often be our fiercest rivals.”
Friend & Foe
By Adam Galinsky, Maurice Schweitzer
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