How to Win without Getting Smug

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Recently I came across a term about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that is new to me – "Victory Disease." As Mark Loproto?writes?on the website PearlHarbor.org, “Victory Disease is used to describe what happens when a nation allows a series of victories to lead them to complacency or arrogance.”?

Such was the case with the Japanese military in their victory in the Hawaiian Islands. Rather than consolidate territorial gains, they remained aggressive in their expansionist moves. The result was the Battle of Midway, where three of their four leading carriers and other warships were sunk. After that, the expansion was over; contraction began, though it took three more years of heavy fighting and heavy losses on both sides for the Allied defeat of Imperial Japan.

Victory Disease is an apt term for actions resulting from overconfidence that lead to defeat. It is something that many companies, both established and startup, suffer from time to time. Because the enemy learns to adapt – or the situation changes – what worked before will not work again. It is time for new tactics.

Marshall Goldsmith?addressed this condition in his mega-bestseller book,?What Got You Here Won’t Get You There. It focuses on habits or behaviors that prevent successful people from achieving their intentions; among the bad habits are being judgmental, dismissive, overly self-absorbed and assuming, and failing to listen and show recognition to others. These bad habits prevent individuals from being more thoughtful, wiser, and successful.

Getting smarter

Borrowing Marshall's insights and the concept of Victory Disease, how can you keep from letting your wins get in the way of your thinking? Here are some suggestions.

Why did I succeed??Examine what you did to achieve your objectives. Analyze what went right and what went wrong. Ask trusted associates to help you diagnose your reasons for success.?

What could I have done better??Yes, things go right, but they can go wrong, too. So what can you learn from the missteps that you have made? Examine your assumptions. Were they correct, or did you fail to test them adequately?

What will I do better the next time??Plan ahead for mistakes. Think through what you will do if they occur. Better to prepare for what could go awry rather than letting it surprise you. Preparation is your guard against overconfidence.

Avoid too-high highs

Winning produces high, elated feelings. Yet, as every successful knows, winning can hide many flaws. The same applies to us as individuals. Therefore, we need to be mindful of our successes. Honor them, but do not revere them.?

When Roman generals returned to Rome after great victories, they were honored with parades. Often an enslaved person was positioned next to the general in his chariot. As the crowds cheered, the enslaved person would utter?Momento mori?(“Remember, you will die.”) Or as another Latin phrase goes,?Sic transit gloria. (“All glory is fleeting.”)

Remain vigilant. Success does breed success, but it can also breed hubris, which gets us into trouble. Doing so will enable you to celebrate your victories without getting sick.

First posted on Forbes.com 3.08.2023

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