The leadership score

On May 21, 2010, in Total leadership, by Neculai Fantanaru

Enter the corridor of champions, by adjusting your potential to the optimum value.

Yesterday afternoon, I enjoyed the visit of a family friend, who is a manager at one of the largest consulting companies in Romania. I invited him to play ping pong with me because I heard he was a huge addict of this sport in his youth. Could I try my strength against him in the game-style and tactical schemes?

After we exchanged a few balls, I realized that I was better than him. I said to him with a slight tinge of regret that I did not want to play for scores, lest he felt offended in case he might lose. However, he, with a smile that showed that he was very confident in himself, looking at me with a thoughtful expression and, at the same time, I think, full of admiration, immediately answered me with great joy:

- Nicu, I can't enjoy myself only with exchanging balls with you. I'm only interested in the final score. Since, I was little, I was dominated by the spirit of competition, the desire to throw myself in the battle and fight, and, in order to prove to myself that I am able of so much more, I always played for scores with everybody. Besides, I can't even play well if I don't play for scores; I play with inattention, carelessly, without being urged by anything.

A brief moment of silence followed, a silence which he again interrupted:

- Nicu, I like the results. I want to see results. Regardless of the game, regardless if I lose or win, I want to see results. Even if I lose, eventually this is a result as well, but good to reflect on. I can't ambition myself and do my best if I don't really have anyone to compete with.

Saying this, he wanted me to understand that the final score is very important to him. The final score makes the difference between winners and losers. The final score encourages people to win.

Leaders always play for scores

When you play with someone by score you adjust your potential to the optimal value - the result can raise you, or can descend you in your own eyes. Only then you prove yourself what you can, only then you prove your real respect for your leadership, and only then emerges that real confidence that you have in you. Only then, you make progress.

Do you amplify your potential, or you decrease it to the value of rest? What exactly gives value to your leadership?

It is difficult or even impossible to be a leader, "a seed", if you confine yourself only for exchanging balls with each one. In order to reach the top of the hierarchy, and to maintain there, you must be prepared to play for scores with everybody, but especially with the most tenacious enemies.

People who never get to be "a seed" are those who do not play for scores, and are reluctant to participate in competitions. Thus, they show hesitation and uncertainty, they are definitely not worthy to enter "the corridor of the champions".

A leader must be a tenacious player, iron willed, dominated by that crazy desire to fight in order to obtain the first place. Only the one, whose single aim is to win, will be able to get involved with more dedication to the game, and to rise above others.

Only the results count

Just as the buildings are depreciating, just as the cars become worn, just as systems expire - so your potential decreases if it remains in its current form. Do you improve your potential by improving your skills, or you keep it to the normal limit?

Leaders want to achieve results, that is why they systematically focus on the "game" they play. Is it possible to be a leader without being interested in the results? The answer is NO. Leaders analyze their potential according to the results obtained from them and from those obtained by other "competitors". Those who are not interested in the results are moving away step by step from the "corridor of champions."

The leadership score is closely linked to the stake of the "game" and the stake is nothing but the success achieved before other competitors of the market. There where it is not a stake, there can't be a fight, respectively a competition. "The game" is considered to be finished when one of the competitors has achieved the goal pursued by all others, and the final score shows which is the position of each competitor.

Losing does not always mean a failure. By analyzing and correcting the causes of failure, bringing improvements and innovations, the score can be changed in your favor, and from a beaten to become a winner.