Part 15 (1/2)

WINNING AND LOSING AT WORK

It is clear why ceremonies are so important to us Ceremonies celebrate history, link the past with the present, the exerted effort with the obtained result They honor and promote perseverance, ambition and hard work They create milestones and cherish collective memories

Business ceremonies have similar functions too Some celebrate the day of the company's establishment, some its quarterly and yearly perfors often boost eether in a (hopefully) joyful and relaxed atmosphere; they reward commitment and loyalty

There is always a certain amount of sy, a funeral, an inauguration, or an awards ceremony, there are traditions and rules associated with each of them These rules vary from culture to culture, but are always deeply prescribed The japanese tea ceremony, for example, can last up to four hours and includes details not only on technical aspects of the ritual, such as the temperature of the water and the type of kettle to be used, but also social and aesthetic rules such as what clothes are to be worn by the host and hoers are to be arranged in the rooe is al your ar up and down in an erratic fashi+on These nonverbal behaviors are especially vivid in sport, such as at Olympic award ceremonies There three winners stand on a pedestal in an obvious hierarchical order, with the goldraised above the other two contestants Football players celebrating a decisive goal leap into the air, extending their arers, as if to show they are the nuestures One arether raised above the head are co their victory Their supporters copy the stance of the leader, often unintentionally Consider the behavior of the crowd rejoicing in the good news Flags or other objects of group significance are waved in the air Soroup and carried around or thrown in the air Nowadays these practices are observed at hts

The prizes themselves are worth a mention The trophies received as part of the coos or the brand names of the parties involved Thus the miniature statues serve as a reminder of success, and they build and uests to pick up on your track record without you saying a word They are easy tools for discreet iement Educational diploood university speaks volumes, not only about your education, but also about your abilities, background and social connections

Both the quality and quantity of the prize matter Some try to impress with the color or the size of the trophy, while others value understatement and quiet taste When did er, the better” start? People froreat Egyptian pyras in modern-day Dubai both come across as symbols of the power and success of the society, even if only teions have always employed the power of size and beauty to capture the hearts and randeur of the Vatican Political aspirations also shape and reflect the scale of design, such as, for exayang, North Korea, better known as the world's ugliest building, but which is nevertheless one of its tallest skyscrapers

Thus, size matters: it intimidates and astounds It is no wonder then, that winners raise their chins and glasses, while losers slouch and sluraceful loser, however, displays their joy or disappoints of the other party, though it is understandably hard to hide discontent at losing, especially if the competition was fierce or the outcome close

TABLE 75 Nonverbal behaviors of winners and losers in the Western world Table 75 gives a list of celebratory and commiserative nonverbal behaviors common in the Western world

It has already been stated that in business it pays to look the part Thus by displaying the body language of a winner, such as straightening the back or raising the head, a ht be created by an individual

The other apparent recons of success If all else is equal or unknohich psychologist would you rather have exan reads PhD, or the one with no qualification uous situation, especially if tins, and, what is more, first ied fact that the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior It never hurts to restate your achievements

It also used to be said that if you want to beco yourself into believing you are so you are currently not, you modify your behavior in line with your perception of that other person's i you or soers thethens your chosen line of new behavior Bear in h, that this pattern is applicable to both the virtuous and the vicious cycle, and can only work to your advantage if you truly believe in yourself If, on the other hand, you lack this crucial ingredient, self-efficacy, you areanxiety or, even worse, depression

CONCLUSION