Handling competitive peers in the workplace

[WORLD] In today’s fast-paced, achievement-driven workplaces, encountering a competitive peer is almost inevitable. For many professionals, this rivalry can spark anxiety, reduce collaboration, and even threaten career advancement. Yet, experts say that with the right strategies, employees can turn competition into a catalyst for personal growth and team success.

A competitive coworker is someone who measures their success against others, often striving to outdo colleagues rather than collaborate. Signs of such behavior include defensiveness, withholding information, overworking, and sometimes taking credit for others’ achievements. While healthy competition can motivate and inspire, unchecked rivalry may create tension and undermine morale.

The Impact of Workplace Rivalry

Research shows that only 4.3% of employees adopt a highly assertive, “competing” style to resolve workplace conflict, but even this minority can significantly impact team dynamics. The psychological toll of rivalry includes increased anxiety, self-doubt, and disengagement, especially if competition turns personal or toxic. High levels of stress and turnover are also linked to overly competitive environments, as employees seek more supportive workplaces.

Strategies for Managing a Competitive Peer

1. Focus on Your Own Performance

Experts recommend channeling energy into your own work and professional development. By setting personal goals and striving for excellence, you can use competition as motivation without becoming entangled in rivalry. “The ultimate victory in competition is derived from the inner satisfaction of knowing that you have done your best,” said legendary broadcaster Howard Cosell.

2. Open Communication

Addressing the issue directly—yet diplomatically—can defuse misunderstandings. Express how your peer’s actions affect your work and the team, focusing on specific behaviors rather than personal attacks. For example, “When you took credit for the project idea, I felt undervalued,” is more constructive than accusations.

3. Build Alliances and Foster Collaboration

Rather than isolating yourself or retaliating, cultivate positive relationships with other colleagues. A supportive network can buffer the effects of rivalry and may even encourage the competitive peer to adopt a more cooperative attitude. Consider forming strategic alliances—even with the rival—by finding common goals or shared interests.

4. Maintain Professionalism and Integrity

Resist the urge to engage in tit-for-tat behavior. Remain cordial, keep your work confidential when necessary, and always act with integrity. Your reputation for honesty and professionalism will stand out to managers and peers alike.

5. Document Incidents and Seek Managerial Support

If the competitive behavior escalates or impacts your productivity, keep a record of relevant incidents. Should direct communication fail, bring the issue to your manager’s attention with specific examples, focusing on how the behavior affects team outcomes rather than personal grievances.

6. Leverage Competition for Growth

Some experts advocate for “cooperative competition”—using rivalry as a springboard for innovation and performance while maintaining a spirit of teamwork. Job rotation, project collaboration, or even job shadowing can foster empathy and reduce adversarial attitudes.

The Role of Management and Organizational Culture

Managers play a crucial role in setting the tone for workplace competition. Transparent expectations, fair recognition, and open dialogue can prevent unhealthy rivalries from taking root. Organizations that prioritize collaboration over cutthroat competition enjoy higher morale, lower turnover, and greater innovation.

If all efforts to resolve the rivalry fail and the environment remains toxic, it may be time to consider a transfer or new job opportunity. Your well-being and career growth should not be compromised by persistent negativity.

Key Takeaways for Professionals

• Focus on self-improvement and personal goals
• Communicate openly and constructively
• Build supportive relationships and alliances
• Maintain professionalism and integrity
• Document issues and seek managerial support if needed
• Use competition as motivation for growth, not division

“It is nice to have valid competition; it pushes you to do better.” — Gianni Versace

“The key is fairness and transparency. That way, they are going to be less focused on what the other person does and more focused on achieving themselves.” — Hillary Elfenbein, organizational psychologist

Dealing with a competitive peer can be challenging, but it also presents an opportunity for personal and professional development. By adopting proactive strategies and fostering a culture of cooperative competition, employees can transform rivalry into a force for positive change.