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CAREER
Recent research from Robert Half revealed Fostering the former type of competitive
that workplace rivalries are on the rise. More environment while not letting it devolve into the
than a quarter of professionals surveyed noted latter can be a delicate balancing act.
a spike in competitive behavior over the last 12
COPING WITH AN OVERLY
months — with younger employees, men and COMPETITIVE COWORKER
working parents most likely to feel heightened
competition.
Whether it’s subtle or upfront, competition at
work requires careful handling. The last thing
As firms strive to deal with the fallout of the
you want is to overreact and damage your own
COVID-19 crisis, stress levels are running at
credibility. While colleagues who let competition
an all-time high. And with many offices still
consume them can be infuriating, there are ways
operating remotely, team cohesion is more
you can help neutralize their behavior.
challenging — and more important — than ever.
Here’s how administrative professionals can help
• Keep your cool. If a colleague is competing
bring out the best in their competitive coworkers
with you, they might be trying to provoke
and create a culture of collaboration.
a reaction. Focus on being polite and civil
HOW MUCH COMPETITION IS HEALTHY? and resist their bait. Competition is far less
rewarding when there’s no one to vie with.
Many of us know people who can’t help • Understand their intentions. Put yourself
competing, whether in work, sports or status. in your coworker’s shoes and consider
On a professional level, competitive colleagues why they feel the need to compete. Maybe
can be incredibly useful, as they are typically they’re insecure about their performance,
proactive, productive and apt to inject energy anxious about redundancies or envious of
into conversations and meetings. Often, this can your success. Understanding their needs
inspire others to work harder and improve their and goals can help you move forward in a
own performance. productive way.
• Bring them into the fold. Competitive
But it can also have the opposite effect. A team people may have a “me” versus “we” mentality.
member who is laser-focused on achievement Whether your colleague is covering up a lack
can come across as aggressive and intimidating. of confidence or just gets a kick out of winning,
Their ingrained desire to nail that new project or praising their accomplishments, asking their
land a promotion can alienate them from their advice and being friendly may help them see
colleagues. you as an ally rather than a threat.
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