Winning an argument can feel deeply satisfying.
There’s a moment—usually very brief—when the facts line up, the logic lands, and the other person goes quiet.
Victory.

And then something odd happens.
The conversation ends.
The energy shifts.

And while you may have won the argument, you can feel—almost physically—that you’ve lost something else.
Trust.
Openness.
Goodwill.
 
Sometimes all three.
 
The problem is that arguments are rarely just about facts.
They’re about identity, values, pride, and the very human need to feel respected.
 
So when we “win” by overpowering someone with logic, precision, or superior knowledge, the price is often paid in silence.
The other person may stop engaging, stop sharing, or quietly decide that future conversations aren’t worth the effort.
 
At Rotary—especially here at Waterfront—we depend on the opposite.
We rely on people feeling safe enough to speak up, test ideas, and disagree without fear of being flattened.
That doesn’t mean avoiding robust discussion.
It means remembering that the goal is not to win the conversation, but to advance it.
 
At our Club, we have a choice.
We can push to be right…
or we can pull the group forward.
 
We can score points…
or we can build momentum.
 
So this week, I invite you to notice the moments where you could win the argument—and ask yourself one simple question:
 
What would it cost?
Because the most effective members are not the ones who win the most debates.
They are the ones who leave others feeling respected, heard, and willing to keep talking.
 
And that, in the long run, is how things actually change.

⚓ Yours in Service and Unity, Derek Pead | President
Rotary Club of Waterfront ⚓
www.waterfrontrotary.org