Creating Win-For-All Solutions | Commitments of Conscious Leadership #14
Do you see life as a “zero-sum game” – creating win/lose solutions for whatever challenges or opportunities seem to come your way? If you are truly committed to becoming a conscious rather than an unconscious leader, the Conscious Leadership Group (CLG) encourages leaders to approach challenges or opportunities with a conscious leader mentality. Conscious leaders commit to creating win-for-all over win/lose solutions.
Release any scarcity mentality you may be harboring, in which you look at life as a pie of fixed resources that are in constant competition with each other. That view means that everything – money, energy, time, etc. – is competing with everything else. You are then forced to choose between competing and compromising. The former means you win while they lose. And compromising means neither party gets what they really want – so it’s actually a loss for both.
What if you instead commit to creating win-for-all solutions? Rather than looking at it in a “To Me” mindset, or a “By Me” mindset, view the solution from a third option – collaboration. Creating win-for-all solutions is about collaboration and involves many of the other commitments previously addressed in the 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership (see our previous articles linked at the bottom of the page).
From Commitment 4, use candor and approach solutions openly and with full transparency.
Focus on sufficiency from Commitment 12 – believing that you don’t need to compete for resources as there are enough available for all.
Remember that from Commitment 13 you are allies for one another and as such are allies in learning to be able to co-create a solution that will work perfectly for all.
Finally encourage a commitment to curiosity – Commitment 1 – which is the foundation of win-for-all solutions. Develop a sense of wondering about outcomes that are not available with only analytical thinking. Designers are involved in a creative business so don’t forget to incorporate that creativity and curiosity in how you approach all solutions in life. Conscious leaders commit to curiosity in every conversation and experience. Look at challenges with a “what if” mindset rather than with negativity. This change in mindset will help you become curious about how all parties involved can get their needs met in ways that will support each other.
In order to practice the win-for-all commitment, you first need to identify the challenge or issue. Then be open and candid with one another. Brainstorm what several win/lose, zero-sum solutions would look like and decide if everyone is willing to shift. If not, then dig deeper to explore where there is a blockage. If everyone is willing, then claim 100% responsibility from Commitment 1. Finally, get curious; see what win-for-all solutions would look like and create an action plan to implement the win-for-all solutions.
Some questions suggested by the CLG to help support the win-for-all solutions include:
- Are we committed to seeing each other as equals and allies in this collaboration?
- What is the biggest idea that our teamwork could create?
- How do we need to change to create this vision?
- What do we need to let go of to create this vision?
Focus on becoming a conscious leader committed to creating a culture that promotes win-for-all solutions. Within your team, using win-for-all coaching questions will help create a culture that supports and encourages everyone. The energy resulting from that collaboration allows solutions to be implemented quickly. So imagine how with a win-for-all culture, your firm will have greater success and thrive as creativity, collaboration, vision and achievement are optimized – for everyone involved.
Previous Iterations of Commitments of Conscious Leadership
Are You Commited to Curiosity?
Sustaining Leadership Success Through Emotional Intelligence
Management Skills vs Leadership Skills
Candid Communication Leads to Successful Teams
Are You Really Practicing Integrity?
Learning to Give and Accept Appreciation
Are You Excelling in Your Zone of Genius?
Are You Living a Life of Play and Rest?
Commit to Being the Source of Your Approval, Control, and Security
[…] all cultures regard competition the same way. Some take a “win/win” approach and find that it’s better for everyone concerned. You’ve heard the old saying, a rising tide […]