Adam Grant

Adam Grant[1†]

Adam M. Grant (born August 13, 1981) is an American popular science author and a professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in organizational psychology[1†]. He has been recognized as one of the world’s most influential management thinkers and one of Fortune’s 40 under 40[1†][2†][3†].

Early Years and Education

Adam M. Grant was born on August 13, 1981, in the township of West Bloomfield, Michigan[1†]. His father was a lawyer and his mother was a teacher[1†]. Growing up in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan, Grant developed an early interest in sports, participating in springboard diving and aspiring to be a professional basketball player[1†]. He was named an All-American in diving during high school in 1999[1†].

Grant pursued his higher education at Harvard College, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree[1†]. During his time at Harvard, he worked as a professional magician[1†]. After Harvard, he went on to the University of Michigan, where he earned his Master of Science and Doctorate degrees in organizational psychology[1†].

Before embarking on his academic career, Grant held the position of advertising director at Let’s Go Publications[1†]. His early experiences, both in the realm of academia and in the professional world, laid the foundation for his future career as a renowned organizational psychologist and author[1†].

Career Development and Achievements

Adam M. Grant began his academic career as an assistant professor of organizational behavior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2007[1†]. His work was recognized for its extensive, elegant, and programmatic research on the power of relational job design in enhancing employee motivation, productivity, and satisfaction[1†][4†]. He was known for his creative and rigorous studies documenting the profound and surprising effects of connecting employees to their impact on others[1†][4†].

In 2009, Grant was hired as an associate professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, becoming the school’s youngest tenured professor at age 28[1†]. He has been recognized as Wharton’s top-rated professor for seven straight years[1†][3†][2†]. As an organizational psychologist, he is a leading expert on how we can find motivation and meaning, and live more generous and creative lives[1†][3†][2†].

Grant has earned numerous prestigious awards for distinguished scholarly achievement, including the Cummings Scholarly Achievement Award for early-to-mid-career contributions from the Academy of Management, the Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contribution from the American Psychological Association, the Distinguished Early Career Contributions Award, the Owens Scholarly Achievement Award for the best publication in the field from the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and a fellowship from the National Science Foundation[1†][5†].

In addition to his academic career, Grant is the host of the WorkLife and ReThinking podcasts[1†]. In 2017, Grant co-founded (along with University of Michigan professor Wayne Baker and entrepreneur Cheryl Baker) Give and Take, Inc., a company that makes a software called Givitas, a web-based SaaS platform designed to help organizations implement the principles from his book Give and Take[1†].

First Publication of His Main Works

Adam M. Grant has made significant contributions to the field of organizational psychology through his books, which have been translated into multiple languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide[1†]. Here are some of his main works:

• Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success (2013)[1†]: This book, published in 2013, introduces the concept of “givers,” “takers,” and “matchers” in the workplace. It discusses how these styles can impact success and provides strategies for fostering a culture of generosity[1†].
• Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World (2016)[1†][6†]: Published on February 2, 2016[1†][6†], this book explores how individuals can champion new ideas and how leaders can fight groupthink. It presents groundbreaking research and fascinating case studies that demonstrate how to recognize a good idea, speak up without getting silenced, build a coalition of allies, and choose the right time to act[1†].
• Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy (2017)[1†]: Co-authored with Sheryl Sandberg, this book combines personal insights from Sandberg’s experience with the sudden death of her husband and Grant’s eye-opening research on finding strength in the face of adversity[1†].
• Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know (2021)[1†]: This book delves into the critical art of rethinking: learning to question your opinions and open other people’s minds, which can position you for excellence at work and wisdom in life[1†].
• Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things (2023)[1†]: This book, published in 2023, continues Grant’s exploration of workplace dynamics and the science of achieving greater things[1†].

In addition to his books, Grant has published numerous academic papers that have furthered our understanding of work motivation, job design, prosocial and proactive behaviors, creativity, and personality[1†][7†].

Analysis and Evaluation

Adam M. Grant’s work has been recognized for its profound impact on the field of organizational psychology[5†][8†]. His research integrates issues of control, attitude change, and diversity in his study of behavior change[5†][9†]. Along with public relations, other disciplines of study including quarter century, welfare, and Great Rift are integrated into his research[5†][9†].

His pioneering research has introduced evidence-based techniques that increase performance and reduce burnout among engineers and salespeople, enhance call center productivity, and motivate helping and safety behaviors among doctors, nurses, and lifeguards[5†]. He has published more than 60 articles in a wide range of leading management and psychology journals[5†].

His book, “Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success,” uses his own cutting-edge research to show how helping others can lead to greater personal success[5†][10†]. He demonstrates how smart givers avoid becoming doormats, and why this kind of success has the power to transform not just individuals and groups, but entire organizations and communities[5†][10†].

Grant’s work has been honored with numerous prestigious awards for distinguished scholarly achievement, including the Cummings Scholarly Achievement Award for early-to-mid-career contributions from the Academy of Management, the Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contribution from the American Psychological Association, the Distinguished Early Career Contributions Award, the Owens Scholarly Achievement Award for the best publication in the field from the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and a fellowship from the National Science Foundation[5†].

Personal Life

Adam Grant is married to his wife, Allison[1†]. They met while he was in graduate school[1†]. The couple has two daughters and a son[1†][11†]. They reside in Philadelphia[1†][11†].

Grant has a diverse range of interests outside of his professional life. He was a former magician and junior Olympic springboard diver[1†][11†].

His personal life, like his professional one, is characterized by a deep commitment to helping others. This is reflected not only in his academic work and writing but also in his everyday interactions with those around him[1†].

Conclusion and Legacy

Adam Grant’s work has had a profound impact on the field of organizational psychology and beyond[1†][3†]. His research on work motivation, prosocial helping and giving behaviors, job design and meaningful work, employee initiative and proactivity, leadership, and burnout has introduced evidence-based techniques that increase performance and reduce burnout among various professionals[1†][5†].

His books, particularly “Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success”, have not only sold millions of copies and been translated into 45 languages[1†], but have also challenged traditional notions of success, arguing that helping others can lead to greater personal success[1†][10†].

Grant’s innovative thinking and dedication to improving workplace dynamics have earned him recognition as one of the world’s most influential management thinkers and one of Fortune’s 40 under 40[1†][3†]. His influence extends to his role as a teacher, where he has been recognized as Wharton’s top-rated professor for seven straight years[1†][3†].

In conclusion, Adam Grant’s legacy lies in his significant contributions to organizational psychology, his influence as a thought leader in management, and his commitment to helping others achieve success. His work continues to inspire individuals and organizations to rethink traditional approaches to success and to create more meaningful, productive, and fulfilling work environments[1†][5†][3†].

Key Information

• Also Known As: Unknown
• Born: August 13, 1981, West Bloomfield, Michigan, U.S[1†].
• Died: Still alive
• Nationality: American[1†]
• Occupation: Psychologist, professor, author[1†]
• Notable Works: “Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success”, “Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World”, “Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy”, “Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know”, "Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things"[1†]
• Notable Achievements: Recognized as one of the world’s most influential management thinkers and one of Fortune’s 40 under 40[1†][2†]. He has been Wharton’s top-rated professor for seven straight years[1†][2†].

References and Citations:

1. Wikipedia (English) - Adam Grant [website] - link
2. Adam Grant - Bio [website] - link
3. The Wharton School - University of Pennsylvania - Management Department - Adam Grant [website] - link
4. APA PsycNet - APA PsycNet [website] - link
5. Social Psychology Network - Adam Grant - Adam M. Grant [website] - link
6. Goodreads - Book: Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World [website] - link
7. Google Scholar - ‪Adam M. Grant‬ [website] - link
8. Wharton Faculty Platform - Adam M. Grant: Award for Distinguished Scientific Early Career Contributions to Psychology [document] - link
9. Research.com - Just a moment... [website] - link
10. Google Books - Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success - Adam M. Grant [website] - link
11. TED - Adam Grant [website] - link