“At the heart of most stable governments is a willingness to share power with people you disagree with–and may even hate.”
– Sebstian Junger, Freedom
Yes, and not just governments. Great teams share this trait.
Plus, there is another quality — a willingness to lose.
In a healthy democracy, it’s the willingness to admit you’ve lost the election and will commit to the peaceful transfer of power.
On a healthy team, it’s the willingness try new things that don’t work out. It’s the willingness to admit that the other idea is better. It’s the willingness to commit to something you don’t (yet) agree with.
It’s ok to argue. It’s ok to debate. It’s ok to not agree. It’s ok to passionately and emotionally defend your position. But it’s not ok to work against it for the sake of winning.
Great team members, like great government leaders, have a willingness to lose.
