Do You Think Like a “Winner?”
You always hear the phrase, “this is a win-win situation,” but what does it really mean? To have a situation truly be a “win-win,” there needs to be some leeway or compromise involved. I am the type of person that likes to have things go my way, but that can’t always be the case 100% of the time. There have been times when I’ve had to drop down or raise up because the result needed to support both parties.
In my role as a recruiter I am constantly coming across situations where I myself can’t always do things my way. There are certain processes to adhere by and I may not always agree with them, but they are in place for a reason. At the same time there are circumstances that come up that can prohibit these processes being followed 100% of the time which would need some deviation from the process. The difference between not doing a process because of a dislike or deviating from a certain process because of a certain situation is “flexibility.”
To be a successful employee, partner, friend, etc. there is a certain amount of flexibility that needs to be present. If a company were to say that everything is black and white then anything red, blue, green or grey may go unnoticed, but could be an important piece of their puzzle for success. For example, if something needs to happen at a certain time, but cannot because of work or personal circumstances, the presence of a compromise can keep the process in tact, but maybe just in a different time frame or a different form of the original process.
If a problem arises, then a solution needs to be created and agreed upon to have an effective outcome. I have a friend that I have gotten into arguments with because we don’t see things the same way. She sees it one way in her world and I see it the other way in my world, and this causes us to bump heads on a number of issues. The most recent advice that I’ve received on this is to take myself out of my world, and try to see things from the other person’s point of view, so that I can create a solution that won’t turn into an argument.
When coming across situations where you have to come to a compromise, always think of the end result; why is it going to be successful and how do I get there? How will this affect others and not just me? Thinking about the outcome proactively will help you come up with a better resolution that can benefit everyone and undoubtedly be a “win-win” situation.
Katy Browning
| 
