HR Industry News

Competitive workers harming team spirit

— 29 August 2007 —

Competitive workers may be harming team spirit, according to a new survey published by Yougov.com for Investors in People.

The survey, carried out in the East of England, showed that over a third of employees claim they work with competitive colleagues, with almost half believing that over-competitive colleagues could destroy team spirit.

The most competitive colleagues include those who are always trying to get the attention of senior managers and those who claim someone else’s work as their own.

Some of the best motivational speakers and trainers come from the sports world where success is achieved by team spirit and personal contribution to the team is encouraged where success is based on joint working rather than individualism. Culture, management style and realistic targets will ensure an engaged workforce.

Paul Avis, Ceridian

The survey points the finger at bosses, with 36% of those surveyed saying that managers play employees off each other, with a further 34% adding that poor communication is one of the causes of an over-competitive atmosphere in the workplace.

“With many organisations having such highly geared productivity and performance targets it is no wonder that such competition exists. However there is a point where a long hours culture, presenteeism and low morale actually become destructive which is why employers should build in controls such as EAPs, clear policies and procedures etc. to begin to remedy this,” comments Paul Avis of Ceridian LifeWorks.

Simon Jones, acting Chief Executive at Investors in People, said: “Employee ambition can have a positive impact on the workplace, driving both personal development as well as business performance. Managed effectively, such ambition can create healthy competition –26 per cent of the East of England employees surveyed who think there is competition in the workplace said that it can lead to others upping their game and a further quarter said it could improve productivity.

“But, there is a balance to be struck between personal progress that supports the business and excessive competition that can undermine it. Left unchecked competition amongst employees can be divisive, damaging team spirit and breeding a culture of mistrust in the workplace.”

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