Question

article on healthy and unhealthy competition​

Answer 1

Answer:

Competition is a foundational and essential element within the sports world. It’s generally viewed as a positive thing, catalyzing athletes and teams to higher levels of motivation and performance. Yet, more often than not, competition between individuals or entities within the business world plays a negative or divisive role. Leaders need to be especially aware of what type of competitive environment they’re fostering within their team.

So what creates unhealthy and healthy competition?

Unhealthy competition is oriented towards:

Scarcity and fear. Competition is unhealthy when it presupposes that there’s only a limited amount of success or achievement available out there in the world. In that way, it’s based on scarcity and fear rather than abundance. It says, “I have to fight to get my piece of the pie, or else others will get it and nothing will be left for me.”

Getting validation and attention. When competition is motivated by a desire to get attention and validation from others, it’s ultimately coming from a place of insecurity and self-doubt. This weaker foundation negatively impacts one’s ability to perform and compete at the height of their potential. At the same time, it’s so narrowly self focused that it forgets about the broader team or community.

Diminishing others. Competition can become even unhealthier when it’s about tearing others down. It’s one thing to be motivated by self-interest, but another thing to start actively sabotaging the performance of others. This ill will and destructive activity not only hurts others but also eats at the core of the person or entity dolling it out.

Winning at all costs. Unhealthy competition puts a disproportional amount of emphasis on the outcome, rather than valuing the process or the journey involved in getting there. And when the outcome becomes the sole focus, it can promote the idea that a person or team has to do “whatever it takes” in order to succeed. This mentality can then lead to all sorts of bad decisions and unethical practices