What we have noticed here at Cullen Scholefield while we discuss the Sochi Winter Olympics over our frequent tea breaks is that sports, and the Olympics especially, has the potential to bring out both the best and worst in people. There are equal amounts of heart-warming stories of support versus depressing stories of bitterness and hostility.
For example, the Jamaican bobsleigh team, the world’s favourite underdogs, roused a loud cheer of support when they returned to the Olympics this year, but their spirited story runs alongside the bitter one of Canadian fans trying to claim the games are fixed because the figure skating results didn’t go their way.
One story that stands out to me is of Lebanese Olympic skier Jackie Chamoun. Three years ago Jackie posed for an Austrian sports calendar and just recently the prep shots from the photo shoot showing the skier scantily clad have been circulated around the internet. Rather than supporting their athlete, the Lebanese government have criticised the skier for her behaviour, calling her an inappropriate representative of the conservative country. Rather than boosting the criticism of Jackie, Lebanese citizens responded in support, launching an internet campaign called ‘strip for Jackie,’ where various Lebanese professionals take nude selfies with the caption ‘I am not naked, I am an “HR Professional”.’
This story is an example of how the Olympics can rally such positive support for individuals, but also how entire nations can abuse it as a distraction from more serious issues in their countries.
So how do you inspire the right balance of teamwork and competition in your workplace?
Both collaboration and competition have their merits in making a company thrive. Here’s the black and white picture:
Collaboration inspires equality and a safe environment where team members can support each other with their work and strive for the same goals.
Collaboration inspires laziness, causing some workers to take a step back and let their more proactive colleagues take the lead.
Competition inspires healthy rivalry between colleagues and the desire to get ahead which boosts productivity and success.
Competition inspires fear of falling behind and worries of inadequacy creating an unsafe environment where colleagues are split into factions of cut-throat go-getters and the scared colleagues they step on to get ahead
So how can you go about creating a safe environment where teams have a healthy dose of competition but aren’t afraid of helping each other succeed?
Teamwork has to be the priority. A company cannot strive when its employees are constantly at war with each other to get ahead, but that is not to say that competition should always be viewed as a negative. Some people have competitive personalities and they have to express this somehow, if they don’t have an outlet for their competitive natures then they will express this in other areas which may not have the best effect on the company, for example beating another employee for an internal promotion.
To avoid the cut-throat tactics having a negative effect on your organisation you can direct the competition to other areas. For example competitors: a desire to be a better team than your major competitor brings the team together which incorporates competition and collaboration all in one. Or, a friendly in-house competition where the winner doesn’t get a pay rise and the loser doesn’t get fired inspires competition and rivalry in a safe environment.
With the right dose of competiveness you can have team members like Swiss skier and gold medallist Dario Cologna who waited 28 minutes to shake the hands and congratulate the last finishers in his event.
As a company, Cullen Scholefield understands the urge to go for Gold (Investors in People Gold that is) and it is all about understanding the right time and place for collaboration and competition. If you strike the right balance you’ll see happier teams deserving of a gold medal!