Commonsense Leadership

Chapter 15Summary for LeadersWinning versus Surviving

Winners are made, not born. An old cliché that applies here is simply that you can win if you're willing to pay the price. This is true in most cases.

When we talk about winners versus survivors, it's very easy until we begin to discuss those things that separate the winners from the survivors. Very often the winners do little things to push themselves over the top, things that we may not see until a game is over, the day is over, or the task is over. In business, the true winners not only talk the game but execute the winning ways. Winning can be contagious if it's given a chance.

As a leader, it's your responsibility to structure the environment so that winning is given a chance every day. It's often the case that winning deals or projects calls for the interaction of several departments in the workforce. Winning can be attached to a very simple task such as being able to walk across the room or even making a bed if you have a chronic illness. If, at the end of the day, you know that you did everything you possibly could to make progress on a task, you can feel like a winner, regardless of the outcome.

In your life, the quality of your interactions and the fine-tuning of the environment are crucial to winning consistently. Every player has a role on your team—and often people have more than one in order for the team to win. As we discussed in Chapter 6, selecting the appropriate players to help you win is crucial.

A quick ...