Are You the Same Team

This caught my eye this morning. It was from an email I received from Gary Smalley. What do you think?

"Hey, aren't we on the same team?"

Good relationships operate like a team! Therefore you have to redefine winning as "finding and implementing a solution that people can feel good about." A winning solution goes beyond a plan of attack that seems merely acceptable or tolerable to everyone. That's compromise, and compromises rarely make anyone feel good.

A win-win solution makes everyone feel good, gives positive movement to the relationship, and leaves the relationships in a better place than it was before. You tend to relax when winning becomes "finding and implementing a solution that people can feel good about." Why? Because you don't have to worry that the others will accept a solution that makes them feel like a loser.

If you walk away from every conflict feeling like a loser, do you think a win-win solution might help? What will it take to focus on both parties winning?

Blessings,


Gary Smalley
Editor, Smalley Relationship Center