It happens. Colleagues compete for rewards, attention, or kudos. Sometimes it's OK, other times it's not. Watch for these nuggets and see which side of the ledger your team is on: When competition is good * Raises the level of play across an entire team * Can build teamwork when team members help each other be successful * Can be effective when rewards are given out fairly When competition isn't so good * Can be divisive when a manager uses competition as a means of humiliating other team members * Can be unhealthy when rewards for outstanding performance are too scarce there are too few rewards for too many people * Can be counter-productive when team members view competition as win-lose Best practices for both encouraging and discouraging competition * Create a Help others be successful reward, where team members are rewarded based on innovative ways they have helped a teamate be more successful on a project or task. * Post team results on a visibility board or website for the entire team to see. Just make sure there is a level playing field and that each team member has an equal opportunity to compete. * Do not reward competition by taking something away from someone else. Make the reward additive, not subtractive. * Do not reward (better yet admonish) win-lose competition where someone wins at anothers expense. * Provide opportunity for the entire team to share in a reward if everyone meets a specific goal * Never compare one employee or team to another, its similar to a parent saying Why cant you be like your brother Jeffy? |
