Building Real Connections
PSPS: Philadelphia Society of People & Strategy
PSPS: Driving Business Value Through People
Over the 4th of July, I reread Adam Grant’s influential book, Give and Take. His research identifies three reciprocity styles: givers, takers, and matchers. Takers aim to get as much as possible, matchers seek even exchanges, while givers focus on helping others without expecting immediate returns. Grant’s research shows that strategic and resilient givers build the broadest, most supportive networks and achieve the most sustainable long-term success.
“Givers grow large networks because they give to many people, not knowing who might be helpful down the road. This approach fosters trust and builds more robust relationships.”
As President of PSPS, I am committed to helping every member unlock the full value of our community. Networking within PSPS is about building authentic, mutually beneficial relationships that drive both personal success and organizational growth. Drawing on Grant’s insights, I want to share how embracing a “giver” mindset can enhance your PSPS experience, your network, and help you achieve your goals.
To harness the full potential of your PSPS membership, consider applying these actions inspired by Grant’s “giver” philosophy:
Lead with Generosity: When you meet someone new, start by asking how you can help them. Maybe you can introduce them to someone in your network or offer advice. Grant’s “Give” principle shows that this kind of generosity not only creates goodwill, but it often opens doors to unexpected opportunities. He highlights Adam Rifkin, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur whose giving is governed by a simple rule: “You should be willing to do something that will take you five minutes or less for anybody.”
Be Generous in Our LinkedIn Community: Engage in our LinkedIn Member Community with a spirit of giving. Look for ways to share your knowledge, offer encouragement, and connect others to helpful resources. The more active and helpful you are, the more likely you are to be remembered and recommended by your peers. Conversely, if you want someone to become your advocate, ask, “If you were in my shoes, what would you do?” Seeking advice has four benefits: learning, perspective taking, time invested, and flattery.
Attend and Contribute at Events: Whether you’re at in-person programs, socials, or webinars, focus on building real relationships. Share your expertise, volunteer your time, join a committee, or help organize programs. As a volunteer-driven organization, PSPS depends on the diverse skills and connections of our members to shape programming, support career transitions, and bring new thought leadership to our community. Members such as Dana Scarcella , Anthony Matejczyk , Beth Cranston Sinkus , Helen Cooke , and Sonia Hardaway took the lead in bringing this year’s quarterly programs to life. Getting involved is the best way to meet more people and become a visible, valued part of PSPS.
Follow Up and Recognize Others: After meeting someone, send a thank you note or share a useful resource. Recently, after meeting a new member for coffee, I was surprised to find flowers delivered to my office as a thank you for connecting. Shortly after, she sent an article she read on kindness. That thoughtful gesture really stood out to me, and it’s something and someone I’ll always remember.
When we experience authentic connections and see tangible value, we are far more likely to remain connected with one another. By adopting a “giver” mindset, you help create a vibrant, supportive community that you can be proud to be part of.
Let’s continue to build a culture where giving is the norm, not the exception. The more we invest in each other’s success, the more rewarding our PSPS community becomes for everyone.
Gratefully,
Please feel free to reach out with questions or feedback.
Save Your Spot for the 2025 PSPS Leadership Forum Featuring Dr. Donna Hicks
We’re thrilled to announce the 2025 PSPS Leadership Forum—The Strategic Power of Dignity: From Conflict to Collaboration—taking place on Thursday, November 6, at Union League Liberty Hill.
This year, we welcome Dr. Donna Hicks, internationally renowned author, conflict resolution expert, and creator of the Dignity Model. With more than 30 years of experience advising global leaders and organizations like the UN, World Bank, and Fortune 500 companies, Dr. Hicks will share how dignity can become your most powerful leadership strategy.
Why You Can’t Afford to Miss This Forum
Dr. Hicks will share her research-backed Dignity Model, a practical framework adopted by the World Bank, United Nations, and leading corporations to help you:
- Resolve workplace conflict while strengthening psychological safety
- Build cultures of accountability, resilience, and high performance
- Influence systems and policies with dignity at the center
- Develop leadership practices that unify and elevate teams
- Unparalleled networking with top executives
This is more than a keynote - it’s a strategic advantage. Be where the most influential leaders will be this November.
Generational Navigation Keynote Recap
Check out this post from Kevin Davis regarding the recent PSPS event on "Generational Navigation" with keynote speaker Hile Rutledge.
Thanks to everyone who came out for our PSPS Summer Social!
Here is a link to the post event recap and some GREAT pictures of our attendees: Summer Social LinkedIn Post
Sponsor Spotlight: Top Stack
Top Stack takes pride in building long-term relationships—we are strategic partners invested in your success. By leveraging our deep industry expertise and extensive talent network, we help HR professionals achieve their goals with confidence by building custom staffing and recruitment solutions tailored to meet individual needs.
Top Stack excels at filling permanent and contract roles in Finance & Accounting, Technology, Marketing, Human Resources, and Supply Chain. Our top priority is to be people-focused with consistent, transparent, and timely communication. This more personal approach is how we select top candidates, simplify decisions, and save everyone’s time.
Contact us now, and let’s get to work!
Member In Transition Highlight
At PSPS, we have a forum for members in a career transition looking for support in best positioning themselves in the market. This informal “advisory board” provides collaborative support during the transition process along with regular lead sharing. For more information, check out the Career Transition Group section of our website.
This month, we want to highlight one of our members who is actively looking for his next adventure! This month's featured member: Garrick Weaver SPHR SHRM-SCP
Recommended by LinkedIn
Tell us about your background and experience.
I have 25 years of broad human resources experience with a focus on talent acquisition, talent management, labor, and employee relations.
Target Role(s)
I am seeking a role as HRBP, HRM, or HRD.
What is your people leadership superpower?
I am industry-agnostic, with the ability to quickly get up to speed on any business or industry.
What value do you get from PSPS?
I enjoy the opportunities to build my network and lead /co-lead several Roundtables (HRBP and HRD).
Fun fact/Hobby/Family, etc.
My wife and I were partners in a business that was # 66 on Philly 100, and I was named Delaware Valley 2023-Medium Category HR Person of the Year.
Upcoming Events
We have a lot of great events coming up over the next few months! Check out the Events section of our website for more information. Here are a few highlights for you to consider with links to register:
Executive/Leadership Coaches Roundtable 7/24/2025
HR/TA Consultants Roundtable 7/29/2025
Talent Acquisition Roundtable 8/12/2025
PSPS Transition Group 8/12/2025
New Member Lunch & Learn 8/13/2025
Head of HR Roundtable 8/15/2025
HR Business Partner Roundtable 8/20/2025
HR/TA Consultants Roundtable 8/26/2025
Executive/Leadership Coaches Roundtable 8/28/2025
Did You Know?
For our PSPS members only...
Have you joined our LinkedIn Group? Here’s the link to join. Join us today!
Our website provides additional information about joining PSPS or becoming a sponsor.
Thank you to all of our annual sponsors.
Nancy Adams, CPC, wonderful advice! And PSPS: Philadelphia Society of People & Strategy provides a lot of great benefits for many!
Thank you for this great issue
Garrick Weaver SPHR SHRM-SCP - great to see you highlighted!
Nancy Adams, CPC thanks for the kind words about the Q1 PSPS program event on Mental Health in the Workplace. It was a lot of work but didn't feel that way working with Dana Scarcella, Megan Mulka MS, PHR, SHRM-CP and Stef Kuonen to pull it together.
Great issue, Aubrie!