By Elaine Quayle
As athletes from around the world prepare to compete in London, workplaces in the United States appear to be hosting competitions of Olympic proportions on their own, according to a new OfficeTeam survey.
In the survey of 1,000 senior managers in companies with 20 or more employees, nearly half of senior managers interviewed (49 percent) said they believe employees are more competitive with each other today than they were 10 years ago.
“A little friendly competition in the office is healthy if it inspires great individual and team performance,” says Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam. “Rivalry between coworkers can often become more intense when the economy is uncertain and people feel pressure to prove themselves.”
While it’s natural for employees to want to stand out among their colleagues, OfficeTeam identifies five types of Olympic-type “competitors” in the workforce who take things too far and provides tips for working effectively with them:
- The Pole Vaulter. This person jumps to nab all of the high-profile assignments, leaving the less visible work to everyone else. To get the plum projects, proactively make your interests known. Volunteer for key assignments and acquire hard-to-find skills that make you indispensable.
- The Boxer. This worker has a jab for everyone—whether it’s a snide remark during a staff meeting or a sarcastic e-mail. Don’t succumb to this person’s negativity. Remain professional when interacting with him or her, and try to work out your differences. If the behavior doesn’t stop, alert your manager or human resources department to the situation.
- The Sprinter. This person tries to curry favor by working quickly—even if the results are sloppy. Don’t cut corners to compete with this individual. Instead, become known for delivering quality work.
- The Gymnast. This employee bends and twists the facts, sometimes taking credit for others’ work. When collaborating with this colleague, be sure to share your original ideas and contributions with your manager. Document the designation of duties and other critical conversations to avoid finger-pointing down the line.
- The Marathoner. This person can go the full distance when it comes to spending time at the watercooler, sharing rumors with anyone who will listen. Although it can be useful to have a sense of the political undercurrents in your firm, avoid associating closely with office gossips, and don’t share sensitive information with them.