Habit 4: Think Win/Win

After reading over this habit, I was able to evaluate my internship and current part-time

job to determine which of the six paradigms of human interaction each falls under. For different

reasons, both my internship and my waitress job seem to fall under the win/win paradigm. Since

my internship is at the State office for a non-profit organization, the success of all the county

programs is looked at as positive, and successful for the State office and the organization as a

whole. The county offices help out each other with recruitment ideas, and possible volunteers

who may be moving from one county to another. Since the importance of win/win must involve

the benefit of everyone involved, my internship portrays that idea to its fullest.

As for my waitress job, managers give us the overall goals of each job, whether it is a

hostess or waitress, and the goals of the restaurant as a whole. There are some general guidelines

to follow for each position, but as for the specific guidelines of how to reach the desired result,

each waitress and hostess may decide for herself. Some waitresses use an extremely personal

approach; forming very close relationships with the customers, while others use a more distant,

but still effective approach; friendly, but giving the table the proper amount of space to enjoy the

dining experience. Everyone knows we can depend on each other, the kitchen staff, and our

managers for resources to successfully reach our results. As for accountability, each waitress

evaluates her based on prior expectations set, and the consequences, set by most, involves the

percentage of tips received at the end of the night.

Habit 4 gives me multiple techniques I can use in both my professional and personal

efforts. For my professional efforts, I believe understanding and applying the concept of true

maturity is key; a balance between courage and consideration. Most businesses have low

consideration, but high courage, making them fall under a win/lose paradigm. If I am able to
apply a high balance of both consideration and courage, I will not only be able to succeed in my

efforts more efficiently, but I will also provide a new source of value to my company. If I can

practice maturity to its fullest, I will develop and maintain many values and traits that will allow

me to become more fulfilled in my job, while adding value for my company.

In this habit, relationships were discussed, and there was a specific quote that I

completely agree with regarding what is needed in a relationship: “Because Win/Win is a

principle people can validate in their own lives, you will be able to bring most people to a

realization that they will win more of what they want by going for what you both want”. The last

portion of this quote is underlined because I truly believe that a relationship must involve two

people who want the same thing. For example, if one person wants five kids, while the other

person does not want any kids, and the couple ends up with two kids, it is a compromise, yes, but

the person who did not want any kids ends up with a lose/win situation. Although they are happy

together, the person gave up something he/she truly wanted, or did not want, in high

consideration of the other person. When I look for relationships, I look for someone who wants

very similar things from life, such as a family, a good career, and many other things.

While reflecting on everything I learned from this habit, and how I will apply it in the

future, one thing stood out to me that came up this past Saturday at my internship’s State

Conference; accountability. Accountability not only applies to holding one accountable when

something goes bad, but also when something goes well. As part of the conference, we had a

panel of five youths who are either out or currently in foster care. In order to arrange this panel,

the five individuals had to be contacted and questioned with potential questions so we could

know if this would be something they were interested in doing. My supervisor would be asking

the questions, and would be arranging the panel. However, the other intern ended up contacting
and arranging this panel to its fullest. The panel was a success; however, when it came time to

introduce the panel and give a summary of what he would be doing, my supervisor did not

recognize the other intern for completing the panel, and told the audience how he arranged the

panel everyone saw in front of them. He recognized myself and the other intern as huge helps to

the conference, but did not give the other intern the proper recognition. To me, I think that is

selfish and unnecessary. I and the other worker in the office gave the proper congratulations to

the intern for arranging the successful panel.

This habit has allowed me to evaluate my current situations, while still giving me tools

for my future efforts in life. I will be able to continue to build on the value I can add to myself,

and to the jobs I possess in the future.