Let’s say you and I are working on something, but we are starting to get distracted because we are both very thirsty. I have a glass that is half filled with water, not enough to quench either of our thirst.
This creates a zero sum game. I could claim the water is mine and drink it; you could claim the water is yours and take it. We could even come up with a solution that doesn’t satisfy either of us. But the more water either of us takes, the less there will be for the other.
Alternatively, one of us could get up, and fill up two glasses of water, and bring them back. We would both get enough to drink. This smashes the zero sum game and maximizes the situation for both of us.
Now think about our leaders for a minute in relation to this story. As you think of leadership, which type of leaders do you want, and how are you going to get them?