Why being Competitive within the Workplace Isn’t always a Positive Thing
You would think that having a competitive spirit would allow you to do great things in the workplace. While this might be true in some instances, it isn't always the best thing in the world. Think about the skills that you need to succeed in the workplace for a minute real quick. What did you come up with? I bet you might have thought a sharp mind, good work ethic and ability to deal with others probably comes to mind.
While you want to have a sharp mind to allow yourself to come up with new ideas and to curry favor with those above you, it doesn't mean you need to compete with everyone. Coming up with new ideas is not the same thing as trampling everyone else in an effort to be the only voice heard. This will only backfire on you and make you out to be a cancer in the workplace.
Good work ethic might have been the second thing you thought of off the top of your head. While you want to work as hard as possible to make the best career for yourself, it doesn't mean that you have to do it all yourself. You might feel like if you do more on your own, it will look better to potential employers. Perhaps to an extent it will, but you have to consider this next point first.
Employers want you to work well with others and as a team. There is no room for people who feel like they are bigger than the company. Employers preach things like diversity, team building and other ways to get the most out of everyone who works for the company. Competition is great, but if you don't allow others to have a say, you will just be messing things up for yourself.
Keep in mind that no one employee is above the company, and even a well connected employee can get cut from the staff. Experience has shown that even a store manager who knows the owner of the company is going to be let go if employee morale isn't raised and sales raised as well.
Competition can bring out the best of us if we are allowing our leadership skills to be sharpened in the process. If you are simply just crushing others in your quest for singular fame it won't work. Be a leader and let your skills shine through without bringing down others. Otherwise you will be the one who ends up leaving.
