Healthy Competition
Competition encourages quality and innovation. Some have said that competition is the mother of innovation. In addition to being more productive, competitive colleagues are also under constant pressure to perform in new and potentially better ways. Organized competitive environments tend to reward those that stand out from the rest. Who can deliver the most unique and efficient product? Simply doing your job well isn’t enough to stand out. To beat the rest, competition can encourage employees to go above and beyond to do their job better and differently.
I think it all depends on your personality and preference. If you want to be individually rewarded and are achievement motivated, then you will want some competition. If you are more communally focused and want your co-workers to be like a family, then you will prefer the collaboration. It’s really up to you if you want a competitive work lifestyle.
Competition can ignite motivation to boost your performance and productivity. If the end goal is to outpace another colleague, you’ll likely get more done than if you weren’t in competition at all. Earning that win can also feel self-validating. But on the other hand constantly comparing yourself to others can fuel unhappiness. As the saying goes, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” There’s always going to be someone better than you, and constantly chasing after perfection is like a dog chasing its tail. Even if you do hit a home run at work, the satisfaction is often short-lived because it’s on to the next feat.
A competitive environment has no room for laziness or mediocrity. You’re held accountable for your work and achievements, and failure to perform will leave space for your competitor to zoom ahead. Competition in general is a strong incentive to push yourself beyond your normal call of duty. In a competitive environment, bored employees are as rare as ligers (hybrids between male lions and female tigers).
At times competitive work environment hinders collaboration. If every man is for himself, then he has little incentive to focus on the organization’s goals. Together, you and your colleagues have a much higher chance of beating out your top business competitors than if each of you is preoccupied with beating each other.
I feel, a little friendly competition with your co-workers can be the source of motivation you need to achieve great heights. It’s also often a natural impulse. At the same time, constantly comparing yourself with a colleague can be self-defeating. In order for a team to work, each person has to come to the table with unique skills and ideas. And then, when the team collaborates on specific projects, everyone can bring something outstanding — and a little bit different — to the group.
