Tips and tactics to survive workplace competition

People deal with competition in lots of different ways. Some thrive on it, while others shrivel in its presence. Competition is unavoidable however and it's simply found everywhere: in sports, school and the workplace. For something that is a natural part of life, the best way to deal with competition is to face it head on and conquer it like a champion.

Competition has its good points and bad points. For one, it can boost one to do his best on the job. In a workplace setting, competition then becomes the motivator for workers to exceed their performance and bring in more contributions to the company. Another good thing that competition brings to the table is that it doesn't make room for laziness and complacency. In the game of one-upmanship, those that remain mediocre get left out in the dust.

On the flipside, competition can bring in additional stress to an already stressful situation. With tight deadlines and the need to exceed targets occupying their minds, employees working in a competitive environment find themselves on edge a lot of times just to meet their jobs' demands.

These two faces of competition present themselves as a unique challenge to the worker, and it begs the question, "What must an employee do in order to reap the benefits of workplace competition while keeping its harmful effects to a minimum?"

Plenty, as it turns out:

1. Accept it as a natural part of life

Just as it says at the beginning of the piece, competition is unavoidable and is simply found everywhere! It is a constant presence in our lives, no matter how much you try to avoid it. When dealing with something as permanent as competition, it's best to make peace with it and accept it as fact.

2. Take a long, hard look at yourself

Knowing what you have to offer is winning half the battle. Play the part of an evaluator and give yourself an honest assessment of what you can do and contribute to the workplace. Doing so will help you choose which battles to fight and which to let go. Save yourself the headache of taking on each and every challenge that comes your way.

3. Recognize who your competitors are

Knowing who you are competing against will give you the right perspective on things. Whether you are in an official competition with another or not, it will only help you in the long run to recognize who you are competing with. From there, you may create the best plan of action to take.

4. Be a kind ally

Knowing who you're competing with is just the beginning, the next step is to figure out how to work side-by-side with them without drama and tension. It helps if you think of your competitor as yourcollaborator. Ditch thecompetitortag and instead see each other as allies, working together for a common purpose. Acknowledge each others' strengths and appreciate what these does to the attainment of your goals.

5. Be your best self

Take control of workplace competition by making a commitment to always perform at your very best. It's easier to deal with the added pressure of competition if you've set a high standard for yourself from the very beginning. Win or lose, you'll always walk away with confidence knowing you've done your best.

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