During a negotiation theory course for my MBA, I recently learnt about the tit for tat solution to the prisoner’s dilemma.
While growing up, I would always prefer to avoid conflict and retaliation. Internally, I justified this to myself as taking the high ground. Unfortunately, to the observer, I was just getting trampled on.
Unhappy with this, I learned how to deal with conflict and no longer accept being trampled.
Tit for tat provides a balanced approach that is optimistic, proactive and forgiving without being weak in its responses. It is proven, logical and sound as a strategy. Most of all, it’s the type of person I try to be.
