How to Become a Good Winner
There are several things that are more enjoyable than winning. This is true for both basketball games and the presidential election.
But if the competition you just won was emotionally draining, with opponents repeatedly verbally abusing you, accused of cheating, and even making dubious accusations against your family , winning graciously can be a problem.
The idea of savoring victory without gloating or disrespecting can be applied to any aspect of competition, but there are many educational tips to be found in the world of politics.
Thank your opponent for competing with you
If you win, it’s important to thank your opponent for challenging you and dedicated his time and energy to defeating you. You have won, so it is important to get high. In 2016, when Trump won the race for the White House, we saw some instructive examples of how not to behave.
Keep in mind, you don’t need to overdo it with gratitude if your opponent has repeatedly done their best to tarnish your reputation in bad faith. There is no need for abundance of grace. Thank them for their time, offer them a verbal prize for their participation, and move on.
Thanks to my friends and supporters
If you’ve worked especially hard to achieve something, it’s more than likely that you didn’t do it alone. Even if you lose, it’s nice to thank those who supported you.
John Kerry’s 2004 concession speech provides an insight into how to show others that their support matters:
My friends, this is where we started our presidential campaign. And all we had was hope and a vision of a better America. It is a privilege and a gift to spend two years traveling this country, getting to know many of you. I would like to just hug you and hug each of you individually across the country.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Give the losing side positive reinforcement and feedback
It may have been difficult to beat your opponent and you won with only a minimal advantage . If so, you probably came close to not winning, and perhaps you won only because of the outdated technique . Even if it wasn’t close, don’t lose the loser’s face as a sign of defeat.
Instead, point out your opponent’s strengths and how much you admire them. This kind of poise can be difficult to induce if your opponent has been less than disrespectful, but try to rise above his behavior.
If your opponent is throwing a tantrum, ignore him.
When the competition is fierce, emotions run high. If the losing side lashes out, let them blow off steam; perhaps they will eventually calm down and approach the situation like an adult reasonable person. If it doesn’t happen for some crazy reason, don’t allow yourself childish behavior.
At this point, your best bet may be to simply ignore your opponent. It’s always better to let the enemy wallow and dig your own grave than to sink to his level and say something that you might later regret.
Remember the competition rates
If you play video games or golf, it is possible that the competition you just won has tiny implications for anyone other than yourself. However, there are other competitions where the stakes are much higher. When you’ve won something important, remember to keep your head down and keep getting the job done, no matter how hard your opponents try to cut you off.
After all, if your victory only means that there is a lot of work ahead of you, it is likely that your opponent may soon be completely out of work.