It Never Gets Easier, You Just Get Better…
We all like to win. Or at least get what we want.
But with the increased impact of technology and globalization, competition has
never been greater.
Which often leads to disappointment?
Which usually makes us bitter?
Off course they cheated!
We lost the promotion because the other guy
sweet-talked the management. We resent the competition for stealing our
clients. We even feel bitter towards people we haven’t even seen – the manager
who didn’t like our resume, or the other couple who bought the house we liked.
Yet top performers not only accept the
competition, they respect it. Even embrace it. Some even live for it. They
realize that as leaders, they are usually judged more not by how the react when
things are going well, but when things are going badly.
In my experience, good leaders although fiercely
competitive, are usually good sportsmen and sportswomen. They understand that
losing is also a part of life.
Here are the reasons why being a good sport is an
essential part of leadership in any calling...
1) It creates a great culture
Sore losers are seldom fun to be around, let
alone work with. A negative personality repels others, creates resentment and
creates a “win-at-all-cost” mentality – ethically or not.
We’ve all worked in companies who will take any
opportunity to trash talk the competition. Such organizations usually also take
the opportunity to brain wash employees that the “others” are to be avoided at
all cost. The dark side!
Yet embracing and respecting the competition
improves culture. Firstly, it allows you to improve – by learning the best bits
from others. Just like exceptionally performing athletes “pull” the rest of the
competition up, the same is true of business. Secondly, being a good sport
shows more belief in your own companies’ capabilities – that you are confident
you can improve to win next time – rather than being a sore loser and make
excuses. And thirdly, creating a good sportsmanship culture encourages workers
to be fair and ethical at all times – to win in the right way.
2) It brings perspective
Accepting defeat honestly, brings humility,
another essential skill in leadership. In the high stakes and high pressure
world of business, those who become stressed over every mistake and defeat will
not last long.
Work pressures are already causing record levels
of physical and mental disease. Being a good sport and looking at defeat with a
lighter frame of mind brings balance and perspective.Take it on the chin,
learn, and move on.
Rather than permanently being defensive and
stressed, good sports usually have more perspective to the real situation.
3) It enhances reputation
Sportsmanship shows leadership, responsibility, and class.
Everyone likes to work for a winner, but no-one
likes a sore loser. It shows weakness. It’s unrealistic. And most importantly
of all, it creates isolation.
Modern day greats such as Warren Buffet, Richard
Branson and Bill Gates are outstanding examples of leaders who know how to lose
with grace. Despite increasing levels of competition and even targeted campaigning
(e.g Apple vs Microsoft), you’ll rarely find them trash talking the
competition.
Being good sports shows integrity and respect. It
enhances your reputation.
4) It fosters collaboration
Ethics And Values Build True Sports in pursuit of
victory.
We’ve often heard how today’s competition is
tomorrow’s partner. Those who are sore losers alienate the competition. Which
means alienating tomorrow’s potential partner. Great leaders understand that
respecting all others is an essential ingredient in long term success.
Sportsmanship fosters collaboration further down
the line.
Lastly, how you win is how you are celebrated. But
how you lose is how you are judged!
It is up to the leader to set the stage for great sportsmanship. Don't foul, don't flinch-hit the line hard…
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