Most people don’t like to lose. Everyone loves a winner. But can we have both? Sometimes.
What do you accomplish when somebody else wins? Sometimes losing teaches us how to win better. Years ago, my son’s youth football team was seven games into the season and was unbeaten. This was a new experience for these boys since the Rockville Wolverines were the perennial “whipping boys” of the league. This year was different. Then, in week 8, they were playing the last place team. And that team was prepared. And they prevailed. When the Wolverines fell behind, they fell apart. They lost the game by 20 points. And then they got very discouraged. Winning didn’t teach them how to lose. But that loss taught them how to win. With the arrogance now gone, they refocused their efforts and went on to win the next game, advanced to the playoffs, and on a cold, snowy night in December, won the youth Superbowl game 6 to 0.
But that’s a football story with a happy ending. It’s not relevant today is it? It is only if you look at winning as a higher score. Sometimes winning means letting somebody else have what they NEED in exchange for what you WANT or NEED. It means deferring to them. It might mean surrendering to them. And then it means learning from it. They get what they WANT now which means they might let you get what you WANT later. You gave them what they NEED. Tomorrow, they may be open to what you NEED next.
We let others win literally and sometimes figuratively. Take your wins strategically. Do the same with your losses. The lessons learned, and the relationships forged make you a better Boss.