An Abundance Mentality

I recently spoke to a group of college students on the topic of negotiating “Win-Win” outcomes. We negotiate our way through daily life in transactions both small and large – from deciding where to have dinner to dividing up household chores to selling a big business. Being a winner does not require someone else to be a loser.

One of the prerequisites for getting to win-win is possessing an attitude of abundance. Those that believe that life is a zero-sum game are limiting not only their leadership effectiveness but also their success and enjoyment of life. We encounter zero-sum thinking all the time. We seem hard-wired to think about everything in a win-lose fashion. An abundance mentality creates a positive framework for human interaction.

Seeking alternative solutions that create a “win” for all parties is hard work that requires both empathy and creativity. This is not about being nice or compromising your principles. It is not about settling or giving in. It is about balancing courage and toughness with consideration and understanding of the other party.

You can’t do that if you think that someone else has to lose in order for you to win. There is enough pie for everybody and by working together we can find a way to make it bigger…and it will likely taste better.