Seeking Win-Win Arrangements

Seeking Win-Win Arrangements is the next quality that Brady and Woodward include in the Trilateral Leadership Ledger's factor of Relationships.

The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines win-win as: advantageous or satisfactory to all parties involved.

In his classic leadership book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen R. Covey lists Think Win-Win as habit #4.   Covey states "Win-Win is a frame of mind and heart that constantly seeks mutual benefit in all human interactions.  Win-Win means that agreements or solutions are mutually beneficial, mutually satisfying.".  Effective leaders embrace this concept and rejects the sentiment 'Well, somebody has to lose'.

Orrin Woodward is famous for saying "Win-Win or no deal!".  The effective leader consciously works to achieve solutions and arrangements that benefit everyone involved.  Far too often people in a leadership position will adopt one of two mentalities.  Either they buy into the idea that someone has to lose for someone to win (just not so) or they feel that everyone must hate the solution (i.e. everyone loses) for it to be right (again, just not so).  The effective leader rejects both of these constructs and embraces the idea that solutions can and ought to benefit everyone involved.  Everyone can and should walk away feeling like they won!

As Covey points out, it is a mindset.  Effective leaders know this and put it into practice.  Once people realize that you are serious about this and will not compromise and throw someone under the bus for expediency sake, they will trust you and the relationship will grow to a point where the rough waters ahead can be navigated successfully.

Think Win-Win.  It works!!

Stephen R. Covey. "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People". Simon & Schuster. New York. p.204-234

Chris Brady & Orrin Woodward: "Launching a Leadership Revolution."  Business Plus. New York. p.97