Yes it's a game... but what exactly are the rules?

Patented in 1933 and sold to Parker Brothers, Monopoly is a board game that is standing the test of time; playing Monopoly is where most of us are given our first glimpse into "business". You open the box, set up the board, pick your favorite token, distribute the appropriate money and brush up on the rules that are conveniently provided. The dice is rolled and the game begins. A couple of hours later someone inevitably leaves disgruntle after they turn over all of their holdings and declare bankruptcy - They say Business (and Life for that matter) is a game and should be treated as such.

I don't remember anyone giving me $200 for just passing "GO"; it seemed I had to do much more. And I sure don't remember seeing a set of neatly typed up instructions as to how to play. Did they fall out of the box when we were setting up? It seems I am in the middle of an engaging game and have picked up some of the rules on the way. This is what I have gleaned so far - 

Knowledge allows you to play the game better: Search it out formally and/or informally. There is some knowledge that allows you to play the game better and with some advantage; understand what you need and what you are good at - Then learn to get really good. What can make it tricky is knowledge and ability valuable today, may not be in the future. Maintaining the momentum of learning to "retool your knowledge base" is key.

You play with people, so build reliable networks: Playing the game requires a wide range of people who can teach, council, mentor and motivate you. This will support you intellectually and emotionally, as well as afford you the opportunity to meet people who can help you play longer and better.

Be Trusted and Reliable: People want to play with people that they can rely on, and who can be trusted to "do what they say, and say what they do".

There are times the game is not fun to play: There are times the dice do not roll your way, you go directly to jail and won't pass "GO", or just can't seem to make that trade for the final property to give you a monopoly. When it doesn't go your way, you need to keep focusing on action to make things happen. And remember, if you are not having fun, you may have you ask yourself, "Why am I playing this particular game?"

Achieve... do not compete: Look to your own goals and work to achieve them - Celebrate your achievements, as well as those of others - Achievement tends to be infectious. If you find yourself competing with someone and their goals, you have shifted the game away from you and to someone else. You cannot achieve someone else's goals... just your own.

"Winning and Loosing" is a spectrum, so play the game with character: There is no absolute winning or loosing in this game, just degrees...there will always be someone "winning" a little bit more, or loosing a little bit more. And this can change in a week, and is the nature of the game, so be ready. Grace is something that will serve you well with the other players, no matter where you find yourself in the game.

Be balanced, as this game of business is not the only one: There is other games that we play and they are all connected... look after your health, share your heart and watch a sun set. 

Well that is what I have so far, but as I say, I am still playing. 

gpe

I get it, we're all smart...

The following is the original and the rewrite can be found by clicking here.

I know a very savvy leader who once started a meeting by saying, "I get it, we're all smart... let's get over it." I found it funny, profound and it set a tone that I had rarely heard before. 

In one simple statement he created a PUSH for everyone in the room...created common ground and checked egos at the door; he reminded us that we wouldn't be at the meeting if we were not smart, skilled and of value to the company. (For those who are not familiar with the term PUSH, it is used in Blackjack when the value of the player's hand is the same as the dealer's; this is considered a tie with no winner or loser and all bets are returned.) But it isn't always a PUSH, as we all know those people who simply set themselves apart. And why is that? -  More often than not, somewhere on that list of qualities, will be Trustworthiness... the firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone (or something). 

When you tear away all the formal structure, governance and process of business, in its simplest of terms, ,you are left with a group of relationships... be it internally among employees, or externally with customers. And like all relationships, the best ones are built on a foundation of trust... as the old African saying goes, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." 

We all gravitate to those people that we can "trust"... be it to get the work done correctly and on time, because they do what they say they will do, are honest in their pursuits, and so on. All of these characteristics will serve a person very well and it is something we should strive for - But here is the thing, trustworthiness alone will not guarantee a strong business relationship. 

You can go fast with trustworthiness, as it can sometimes be a lonely venture, but if you want to go far, you need Mutual Trustworthiness... it is the knowledge and belief there will be reciprocity. This will build real relationships and create the "runway needed" to make great things happen. In the end, it becomes important to understand mutual levels of trustworthiness and how they are aligned; some will be evident though action and some will have to be taken on a little bit of faith.   

• As individuals, we should ask ourselves what characteristics make us "Trustworthy"?
• As leaders, we should ask what aspects of "Trustworthiness" do we want to foster on our teams?
• Does "Mutual Trustworthiness" exist in our business relationships?

Symbolically, when you shake someone's hand, you are saying, "Trust me, I have no weapons". Do you know what else does your handshake says? 

This is how you will go far.

gpe

Sometimes it's just hard to do something...

I have been posting a blog every Sunday and Wednesday for a while now and have been true to my schedule. Some blogs have been well received, while others not so much. But I have always published. Today, it has been hard to come up with something to write about.

Today... every idea I have come up with keeps crashing in the proverbial "ball of flame". I just can't get it together, and in fact have been wrestling with it for over a day now. 

The big question I have been asking myself is, "do I just not post today, or do I at least publish something?". If you have gotten this far, I guess you have the answer. As I write this, it strikes me that there is a message in all of this. When it is hard, do you just put it off, or do you put the best foot forward you can? Is it better to do something, or nothing at all?

If it was another day, I suspect I would have something to say about this, but because it is today, the best I can come up with on this day is ... 

Do something!!

As a consolation for reading this far, I have attached the link on a great talk by Dr Brene Brown on vulnerability. Click here. It is very inspirational.

Tomorrow is another day,

gpe