It is no secret that the simplest strategies often get the best results. That is exactly the case with the game-changing concept we are going to discuss now. I have been using this method for the last few months and am constantly in awe of how simple and effective it is.
I call it the “Good, Better, Best” Strategy. If you think about it, you can break any decision, action, or plan down to four potential options: Bad, Good, Better, Best. We will just remove, “Bad” from the list, no one wants a part of anything bad. Each day we encounter dozens of situations where we must make a decision, take an action or formulate a plan related to some kind of objective. Often people just react without much thought and wind up with mediocre or even negative results.
One of the most powerful tools we have as humans is our imaginations, we can run multiple complex possible outcomes through our mind effortlessly. We do it all the time without even realizing it. What would happen if when presented with a situation, we were to take a step back, use our imagination and contemplate what a good response would be? What a better response would be and with even some more thought, what the best response would be? And then responded with one of those well thought out scenarios instead of the initial knee-jerk reaction. Do you see how easy this is and how incredible the implications are?
An example to help clarify…
Let us look at the options available in a scenario where a co-worker in your office approaches you and says something rude to you about your handing of a project you are both involved with.
Bad Response: You reply with something rude to them and walk away
Good Response: You say, “I’m sorry you feel that way” and walk away without escalating the situation.
Better Response: You say, “I’m sorry you see it that way, can you give me some more information, I’d like to understand where you are coming from” and then hear them out and thank them for sharing their view.
Best Response: You say, “I’m not sure where you are coming from with that comment, but I want to understand. Let me know what you have issues with and let us see if we can put things together in a way that we are both happy with”
The outcomes from these various responses are not difficult to predict. With the Bad Response, the tension level will maintain or rise and there is a good chance the other person will talk badly about you to others in the office in ways that will create a negative work environment and may even damage your standing. The Good Response will not escalate the situation, but it will not do much to help it either. The Better Response will go a long way to keeping the negative situation from escalating and it may remove the negative feelings from the other person, but there is no guarantee. The Best Response however, will eliminate the negative escalation and will likely turn the other person into a collaborator who now instead of speaking bad about you to others and possibly looking to undermine you and your efforts, will now be an ally who will be speaking good about you to others and will be looking for ways to build you and your efforts up.
Not much a difference at all in terms of effort with the four scenarios, but I think you will agree there is a huge variance in what the results will be. Imagine how you and your career would fare in that company if you consistently offered the Best Response vs. the Bad or Good Response, can you see the incredible value of this practice? The previous example was a business setting, but this strategy can just as easily be applied to any personal or relationship areas as well. Once you start stepping back and looking at things from the Good, Better, Best perspective it becomes kind of a habit and as a result is very easy and even kind of fun. Try this simple strategy out for yourself and let us know how you do.
