I was an only child, but I had 19 cousins that I got to share life with. As #18 in the bunch, I didn’t really play all that much with them, but I did get to observe them and see the way they lived life. Some of my greatest memories were when we were all together at our Grandparents house. WOW, what a childhood. While we all have a different perspective of life in and around “The HOUSE” (what we called Grandma and Pops house). I would not trade it for anything in the world.
Playing nice isn’t just for siblings. Whether you are a part of a sales team or an independent sales rep, playing nice is the right thing to do. The Golden Rule applies here too-do unto others as you would have done to you.
Personality differences can be a major cause when people don’t “play nice”. Some people simply don’t see you as part of their team; it is an every-man-for-himself mentality in the field. People lie, they cheat, and they steal. I would want to play dirty, too. But Mom would always say, “I don’t care what they did. It’s how you respond that matters.” Mom’s advice, though hard to swallow in some instances, is applicable.
How do you respond when another isn’t playing nice? Avoid knee-jerk reactions. Take a step back from the situation. Remember, even as colleagues or competitors-we are all in this together. People on your sales team (or in your field) are part of a bigger team. We aren’t always in the same sandbox 24/7. You may not know what has transpired in the last week, day, or even the last few hours. A gentle response will turn away wrath. (And truthfully-nice guys don’t finish last!)
Playing nice is an attitude. It is not how you do things but the why behind it. You do this because it is right. That, and because Mom said so. Thank You, ALL of My Cousins for investing in me, our family and “loving unconditionally”. You are the BEST. #remember14
“One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one man cannot make a team” (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, basketball player.)