The Find: In a recent survey nearly half of senior executives interviewed said they believed employees are more competitive now than they were just ten years ago.- The Source: A survey of senior executives from OfficeTeam.
The Takeaway: Apparently, it’s not just in Beijing that the competition is heating up, things are also getting tense in cubicles across America. When an independent research firm commissioned by OfficeTeam interviewed 150 senior executives at the 1,000 biggest American companies, 46 percent said they thought employees are more competitive now than they were ten years ago.
Dave Willmer, executive director of OfficeTeam speculates that perceived job insecurity in a tough economy may be partly to blame for the more cut-throat atmosphere at many companies. “This pressure to perform may result in rivalries between employees,” he claims. OfficeTeam also helpfully identifies five types of competitive employees, each with their unique strategy for getting ahead at others’ expense, and offers a recommended management strategy for each:
- The sprinter tries to beat colleagues to the finish. To get the most out of a sprinter, “encourage him to avoid cutting corners.”
- The weightlifter focuses on quantity rather than quality and often overburdens herself. Solution? Redistribute the work and refocus on quality.
- The gymnast is the team-phobic perfectionist whose quest for excellence needs to be more oriented .
- The pole vaulter attempts the seemingly impossible, which can be a great thing, just don’t let her monopolize the high profile projects.
- The saboteur is the cheater- found in every sport and office. OfficeTeam suggests explaining the value of playing by the rules, but simply getting rid of this type of competitor might be a better bet.
The Question: Do the survey’s conclusions mesh with your own experience — is office life getting more and more competitive?
(Image of competitors on the starting line by Jon_Marshall, CC 2.0)
