‘Quid pro quo’ is a Latin phrase, which, loosely translated means ‘a favour for a favour.’ Sometimes also translated as ‘you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.’ If I do something for you, I expect you do something nice for me. The flip side is also true, but is usually called revenge.

This is played out in kids from 3 to 93. I see it daily in our kids – kindness and anger when the ‘favour’ is not returned as expected. Additionally, I see it in politics, organisations, teams, business, celebrities, and all other areas of our lives. It’s why this weird, old, Latin phrase is still commonly used today.

There is alternative though. The 2G response is gratitude and generousity. When others do things for us, we can be grateful. We can acknowledge what they did, credit them in front of others, and so on. However, the biggest action we can take is to be generous. To not expect or want or demand anything in return. To freely give and share our knowledge, our work with others who might benefit.

When we are grateful and generous there is no ‘quid pro quo’ as nothing is expected in return. Therefore revenge doesn’t even factor in. We can build the ‘quid pro quo’ culture in our teams, organisations, and, yes even our families, or we can go the ‘2G’ route. Culture is impacted by what we repeatedly do.

The choice is up to us.

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