This past Thursday I was privy to watching the playground judicial system at work. I was pulling yard duty at recess and noticed a fairly heated game of "Switch" (ask your kids) going on. The game was getting intense, when sure enough, two boys stuck their foot in the same corner. There immediately rose a contention as to who was first. The call went out for the "judge" (the next person in line) to step forward. He did so very importantly, peered closely at the two feet and declared, "There is a tie!" At this point, I thought all #@*+ was going to break loose, (mind you these were 2nd and 3rd graders) but without missing a beat, the two tied boys stepped back, and calmly went into the rock, paper, scissors routine. One through a rock and the other scissors, and that was that.It was all done with so little fuss. I couldn't help but think, "Man, wouldn't life be so much simpler if we could all just play Rock, Paper, Scissors and be done with it!"
What do you think?
2 comments:
I'm down with RPS, if you always pick Rock ..
:)
Habit # 4 in The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey is "Think Win-Win."
Basically in a negotiation or conflict, find a solution that satisfies all parties involved. So it's either win-win or no deal. Not win-lose, because all win-lose propositions eventually turn to lose-lose.
That's kind of an adult way to do RPS. Find out what a "win" is for the other person, and then form your "win" around that, or as close to, and there you will find your solution.
A solution like that is caled synergy. Good stuff. I recommend Covey highly.
So kind of a rule of thumb is the question: "What is your win?"
Dale
Good thoughts, Dale. I completely agree with the win-win theory. And if you put the other person's win first, it will always work, because at that point, you have adjusted your mindset to win no matter what. Thanks!
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