Win/Win

Win/Win is a common cliché, but what does it really mean? Winning alone is not rewarding. If I can help you win, then I win too. If I focus on my own win, then your win becomes secondary or worse, you have to lose for me to win. Watch the behavior of your peers. You will see two methods at play.

1. Those who seek the benefit of others as a practice.

2. Those who seek their own gain at the expense of others.

These two can be hard to discern. True motivation is elusive. Even our own. Am I really seeking to help? Or am I employing a tactic to extract my own gain?

But “you will know them by their fruit.” Watch the trail behind them. What are they really leaving in their wake?

There is an appearance of serving others that is a veiled tactic of taking from others through the guise of serving. But true service means there is never a closing technique at the end.

I think this is best portrayed in social media. Much of the content we see is created to show altruism at work. But how did that act get recorded? If we are serving others, why are we recording it?

A great exercise for us. Let's seek 3 opportunities to serve someone else today in such a way that there cannot be reciprocity. Don't tell anyone, just help someone win today. Make it count too. How about a co-worker that you don't see eye to eye with? Look for ways to really be impactful without seeking affirmation. I would love to hear about your experience. Not each act of service, but your overall experience and how it is helping reframe your thinking about win/win.

If you know someone who exemplifies leading others to win, let me know and I will reach out to them to hear their story and share it here!