Allowing all sides to benefit rather than requiring a loser.
Reach for it when describing an interaction in which combined gains need not equal combined losses
They reached a non-zero-sum agreement that improved both services.
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| warm | |
| professional |
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| formal |
everyday
Fits when all named parties receive a clear benefit
Careful Win-win can conceal unequal or externalized costs.
warm
Fits when joint effort and shared agency deserve emphasis
Careful Collaboration does not guarantee a positive payoff.
warm
Fits when working together rather than competing is central
Careful Cooperation can still divide a fixed resource.
professional
Fits when the interaction creates net aggregate value
Careful Positive-sum is stronger than merely not fixed-sum.
professional
value-creating
Fits when new value rather than redistribution is demonstrated
Careful Value creation depends on whose value is counted.
formal
mutually beneficial
Fits when each participating side gains
Careful Mutual benefit says nothing about outsiders.
non-zero-sum game
The water agreement turned scarcity into a non-zero-sum game.
non-zero-sum thinking
Non-zero-sum thinking led both libraries to share storage.
non-zero-sum relationship
Their non-zero-sum relationship rewarded referrals in both directions.
Keep in mind
Non-zero-sum does not mean fair; gains can be unequal and costs can be shifted to people outside the stated game.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Updated
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