Wait a minute. Isn’t competition good in the work place? Isn’t competition what makes America great?
The question really is which is better for your team?
You are only as good as your weakest link when the chain breaks. You might have one super link in the chain, but that does not matter when the chain breaks. By shoring up your weakest link the entire chain is stronger.
When does competition becomes to intense what are the ramifications?
- Backstabbing
- Distrust
- Infighting
- Hoarding of people, intelligence, IT
- Less sharing of people, intelligence and IT
- Intelligence becomes power
- Credit becomes the name of the game
- Turnover
- Decreased productivity
What does a climate of collaboration produce?
- Breakthrough results
- A common vision
- A shared sense of responsibility
- Customer satisfaction
- Trust
- Straightforwardness
- Openness
- Acceptance
- Responsibility
- Engaged employees
- Improved bottom line
Healthy competition between teams is rewarding
When there is healthy competition between teams for the benefit of the organization this can be very positive. In this environment the teams are working towards the same goal.
The teams know that in the end everyone will be a winner and be allowed to reap the benefits of working on the selected winning idea.
The best practices will be shared with everyone.
What is that you want?
You want an organization that is:
- straightforward;
- honest and operates with integrity;
- transparent;
- open;
- accepting of one another; and
- responsible.
When mistakes are made apologies are offered. Participants separate the people from the process. That is participants are hard on the problem and soft on the people. The team knows that they can count on everyone to give it their best.
All participants are able to do what they said they would, or if problems come up they are brought to the attention of the team as soon as possible so that the team can assess what might be appropriate going forward.
This is why you want collaboration over competition.
Follow up actions
Contact Mike Gregory to speak to your group or consult with you, and check out his website, books and helpful content on the right side of his About page. Michael Gregory is an international speaker that helps others resolve conflict, negotiate winning solutions and inspire leaders by emphasizing collaboration. Mike has written 11 books including The Servant Manager, 203 tips from the best places to work in America and Peaceful Resolutions. Mike may be contacted directly at mg@mikegreg.com and at (651) 633-5311.