Think Win/win

Think Win/Win

Trying to think win/win is a good way to maximize productivity in almost anything you do in life. In this case he emphasizes business successes but it is easy to see it from both sides of the spectrum, life and work. Working toward a common goal with others input and help works well for me the most when everyone shares that common goal. Working toward that goal together with equal amount of work for the members and everyone helping each other out seems to keep everyone on track and no one gets over loaded.

The win/lose part of the chapter reminds me a lot of athletics and coaching strategy. I know that some coaches will almost scare you into playing or doing well because you are scared to make mistakes. You make a mistake and you run or you get scolded. The coach will win even if you lose it seems like. Even when you have a boss at work that uses his position to get whatever he or she needs. This displays win/lose attitude I think, or at least that's how I usually see it, even if it is a minor case of it. I think that the best point made in this article was the quote "life is not always a competition."

In the opposite spectrum, the lose/win attitude or approach is even worse than the win/lose because of its passive attitude. It just means you have given up before you even started because you do not stick up for what you believe in.

Taking peoples ideas and just accepting them even though you think you could add something to it to make it better.

Lose/lose sounds terrible in the way that Covey explains it with the divorce story that he tell about the husband selling a car for 50 dollars and gave 25 dollars to his wife just because he was stubborn. The lose/lose is when two people are so caught up with the other person winning they will do anything to not see that person win. They end up not even caring about their situation anymore, they just make sure that other person does not win.

I think it is important to be flexible with your option of which one you might chose at which time. Covey says that it depends on the situation, which is what I do based on who I may be speaking to, what type of situation it is and the magnitude of that situation. You have to play different roles at different times of your life and different situations.

I like the option of no deal as well, as we discussed in class, sometimes that is the best option at that time. You walk away from it for a little bit to clear your head and make a better more educated decision. If you feel like your end of the deal is not worth it then no deal is the option you should take. Standing up and telling the other party what you think your end of the deal should entail is part of the deal making process and you need to communicate that. Now that I know this process I will be well prepared for