How to Respond to Your Next Big Win
How do you respond to the big win?
If you’re like most of us when you win, you tend to:
- Look ahead: The win is never enough. There’s always a new challenge around the bend. We look for “what’s next?”
- Look back: We analyze with the 20/20 clarity of hindsight. We ask ourselves “what can I start doing, stop doing or continue doing for the future wins?”
- Look around: We are mindful of the moment. We savor the accomplishment and absorb its prize, thinking “I want to take it all in.”
There is some value in all of these responses. But none of them is the best way to respond to a win.
Rick Bennett had the biggest win of his life this month. He leads the only Division I sports program at one of the oldest universities in the U.S. where undergrad enrollment is only 2,200.
This season, many blamed him as representing the worst of competitive hockey. In a January game against RPI, he punched the opposing coach. Incredibly, though, after taking responsibility for his behavior and serving his suspension, he coached his team past some of the powerhouse large-school college hockey programs to win the national championship for the first time in the school’s history.
What a moment.
First question from the media, on the ice, immediately following the win: “You’ve just won the national championship, how does it feel?”
“I really want to thank the Minnesota Gophers for a great game. We have a ton of respect for their program,” he said with sincerity.
Next question: “How have you brought this program from where it was to being national champions?”
“It started long before us,” came the reply. “We are standing on the shoulders of great leaders who have built our foundation. We are grateful for what they’ve done.”
Rick Bennett didn’t look ahead or back or around. His response wasn’t about him. He looked outside.
And here’s why the best way to respond to a win is to look outside:
1. Gratitude reminds us that it’s not about us. One of the great struggles of my life is learning the irony that I’m happier when I focus on others. Gratitude takes my mind off of me. It’s almost impossible for me to be selfish, worried or empty when I’m really thankful for others around me.
2. Humility amplifies the joy. I love being around people who authentically play themselves down. It allows for a safer and more broadly shared experience. Rather than absorbing strength and admiration, I want to reflect it.
3. Expanding the narrative makes a better story. No great story is about one person or team. Inspirational narratives point to a bigger context. Too often I think my story is about me. When I consider my role in the broader narrative of my family history, our business history and the legacy of our community, I see a great story being told. As it is with you.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s good to look ahead, back and around at ourselves when we win. But the greatest leaders, who make the most of their wins, show that the win is about something bigger.
What win have you recently celebrated? And how could you “look outside”?
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