Good sportsmanship is the trademark of a mature student-athlete. They learn to win and lose with class, to refrain from taunting and showboating and to treat opponents with respect. These lessons are not left behind when a student-athlete graduates. They have a spot in the workplace.
Former student-athletes should show good sportsmanship whether they are a new employee or a seasoned manager.
Here are a few sportsmanship rules we at Game Theory Group believe should be modeled in the workplace:
Avoid trash talk: Positive communication plants the seeds of respect. You don’t need to be best friends with everyone, but you can be polite and avoid causing debates and arguments whenever you enter a room.
Don’t show off: If you’re good at your job, people will take notice. It does no one any good to rub it in and actively fish for praise.
Listen to your bosses: Your supervisor is like a workplace coach. They draw up a game plan for you to follow. It is your job to execute that game plan by following their directions. That is the best path for job security, just as being coachable leads to more playing time.
Be a team player: Root for your coworkers to do well and do your part to help the whole team succeed. Delegate tasks and let others contribute their skills to important projects. Loyalty is a quality that can earn you trust and lead to a promotion. People enjoy seeing someone who is supportive instead of competitive in a negative way.
Play fair: Cultivate success through honesty. Don’t take credit for other people’s work and don’t push blame for your own mistakes onto someone else. Working together with your coworkers and bosses shows you are someone who can be counted on when it matters most.