Future Entrepreneurs: Gracious Winners
Date Published: 11/08/2018
Great to see the strong numbers for voter turnout for the midterm elections! A record number of women have been elected to the House! Whether your party took control or retained control let’s make time to talk about gracious winners.
Most of us have heard "don't be a sore loser"...how about being a sore winner? You know the type: Those that get an award, win an elected position or even just a positive affirmation from a manager and suddenly they are queen of the world?!
We’re talking about the person that was chosen as Employee of the Month, and now they drop this fact in every casual conversation, "oh, I just love not having to walk so far. You know, now that I'm Employee of the Month I get my own special parking spot." The worst!
Sometimes it’s more subtle, like when a colleague gets acknowledged for specific expertise they showed in an area - and before you know it they are the end all in that subject area. Acting like a sore winner is easy to do. Here are a few ideas to keep us from becoming "that" person, the sore winner.
Ups and downs and the wins and losses that go with them are part of real life. It’s easy to celebrate a victory, and we should celebrate progress as well as wins! https://thewishwallfoundation.org/desideri/future-entrepreneurs-celebration-inspiration
Alas, no one wins them all. It’s much *much* more difficult to accept defeat in an honorable way. Check out some bright ideas on ways to be gracious losers and winners:
Keep it real. Maybe your team lost a game this week…later it may be losing a pitch, client or fewer views on social this month. Remind yourself that you need to accept the truth that you’re not going to be the best at everything. This is an even better reason to define and refine what you’re good at! [Here’s a touchstone on defining your why: https://thewishwallfoundation.org/desideri/6-top-success-tips-for-entrepreneurs]
Point out “the greats.†Even professionals and skilled artists fumble sometimes. Choose a profession or field that you admire and research “the greatsâ€. Make notes of their failures as well as their accomplishments. Reminding yourself about the real truth of failure will aid them in receiving failure more graciously.
Focus on improvement, not winning. If the main goal of the activity or game you’re involved in is winning, you will end up being disappointed several times. Instead, refocus on improving a certain skill in each activity. This can be in your field, online or IRL. If you play basketball, you could focus on the art of dribbling and passing. As these skills improve, work on improving layups and then dunks. When you succeed in these areas, than you were was successful, win or lose.
> Be an example. Be aware of the expression on your face when someone else is nominated to the position you desired to hold or when someone else wins a pitch you wanted. Be mindful of the inflections in your voice as you casually announce that someone else was chosen for the project, or solo or top views per month (and balance life on and off line).
> Encourage gratitude. Be thankful that you have skills and abilities to compete. When we learn to be humble, we can become a gracious winner or loser.
> Don’t compare. We face comparisons and criticisms outside the home. Give yourself a haven and break from comparing abilities and rankings. And Good Lord, attacking is never a wise move: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/07/trump-calls-out-gop-losers-in-midterms-who-did-not-embrace-him.html
Through training, encouragement and leadership, we can become gracious winners and good losers.
In gratitude & grace,
Akasha Lin
Akasha Garnier for The Wishwall
Author, Brand Expert, Filmmaker
http://www.akashagarnier.com
Read more from Future Entrepreneurs: https://thewishwallfoundation.org/future-entrepreneurs
"Wherever you are on your journey…believe it’s worth the trip!"
~Akasha, #ShineThroughtheNoise
Most of us have heard "don't be a sore loser"...how about being a sore winner? You know the type: Those that get an award, win an elected position or even just a positive affirmation from a manager and suddenly they are queen of the world?!
We’re talking about the person that was chosen as Employee of the Month, and now they drop this fact in every casual conversation, "oh, I just love not having to walk so far. You know, now that I'm Employee of the Month I get my own special parking spot." The worst!
Sometimes it’s more subtle, like when a colleague gets acknowledged for specific expertise they showed in an area - and before you know it they are the end all in that subject area. Acting like a sore winner is easy to do. Here are a few ideas to keep us from becoming "that" person, the sore winner.
Ups and downs and the wins and losses that go with them are part of real life. It’s easy to celebrate a victory, and we should celebrate progress as well as wins! https://thewishwallfoundation.org/desideri/future-entrepreneurs-celebration-inspiration
Alas, no one wins them all. It’s much *much* more difficult to accept defeat in an honorable way. Check out some bright ideas on ways to be gracious losers and winners:
Keep it real. Maybe your team lost a game this week…later it may be losing a pitch, client or fewer views on social this month. Remind yourself that you need to accept the truth that you’re not going to be the best at everything. This is an even better reason to define and refine what you’re good at! [Here’s a touchstone on defining your why: https://thewishwallfoundation.org/desideri/6-top-success-tips-for-entrepreneurs]
Point out “the greats.†Even professionals and skilled artists fumble sometimes. Choose a profession or field that you admire and research “the greatsâ€. Make notes of their failures as well as their accomplishments. Reminding yourself about the real truth of failure will aid them in receiving failure more graciously.
Focus on improvement, not winning. If the main goal of the activity or game you’re involved in is winning, you will end up being disappointed several times. Instead, refocus on improving a certain skill in each activity. This can be in your field, online or IRL. If you play basketball, you could focus on the art of dribbling and passing. As these skills improve, work on improving layups and then dunks. When you succeed in these areas, than you were was successful, win or lose.
> Be an example. Be aware of the expression on your face when someone else is nominated to the position you desired to hold or when someone else wins a pitch you wanted. Be mindful of the inflections in your voice as you casually announce that someone else was chosen for the project, or solo or top views per month (and balance life on and off line).
> Encourage gratitude. Be thankful that you have skills and abilities to compete. When we learn to be humble, we can become a gracious winner or loser.
> Don’t compare. We face comparisons and criticisms outside the home. Give yourself a haven and break from comparing abilities and rankings. And Good Lord, attacking is never a wise move: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/07/trump-calls-out-gop-losers-in-midterms-who-did-not-embrace-him.html
Through training, encouragement and leadership, we can become gracious winners and good losers.
In gratitude & grace,
Akasha Lin
Akasha Garnier for The Wishwall
Author, Brand Expert, Filmmaker
http://www.akashagarnier.com
Read more from Future Entrepreneurs: https://thewishwallfoundation.org/future-entrepreneurs
"Wherever you are on your journey…believe it’s worth the trip!"
~Akasha, #ShineThroughtheNoise
