Play to win, not to not lose. The objective is to desire victory more than the fear of defeat (Chris Hirst – Management Today). This mindset is liberating and allows teams of all types to perform at their best.
Exploring further, trying not to lose is a focus on protecting the status quo (Dr. Margi Warrell – Forbes). This discourages open thinking, open discussion, and the exploration of what is possible. This creates a drab working environment that is destined to fail in today’s dynamic VUCA world that demands creativity and quick action.
For businesses today, playing to win is correlated with experimentation which is a far cry from protecting the status quo. However, to be successful at experimenting, you need to create a safe space for your team, where it is OK, and even desirable to fail in the push for something better. Adria Trowhill’s Living Systems team coaching model is focused on developing high performing teams that work in a safe environment and are focused on moving forward, not protecting the status quo.
In support of change and experimentation, Trowhill’s analogy for the paradox of change is a hypothetical situation where two people are frantically bailing water out of a sinking boat. A passerby asks why they don’t fix the hole in the boat? And they respond that they don’t have time. This simple paradox highlights the difference between playing not to lose, versus playing to win, and it is the backdrop for Trowhill’s Living Systems team development path.
She starts the process by asking the following questions:
- What is the hole in the boat for your organization?
- What can you do about it?
- What do you need to do?
- Who do you need to be to get this done?
- What values do you honour by doing this?
Core to the Living Systems approach is that individuals are at the center of the team, and it is the individualism of each person that makes the team unique and therefore valuable. Working with each person’s unique skills and challenges is critical for the team to succeed. In short, putting the “I” back in in Team is critical to create high performing teams.
Trowhill extols the virtues of democracy in teams which ensures that everyone has the opportunity to express their thoughts and to have a choice. Following an inclusive work process, team members can fully commit to the common outcome which ensures successful implementation of whatever the team decided. In an Interview by Jared Kogan, Trowhill provides team building principles and practical nuggets that are of high value to anyone leading a team.
