The Myth
It is best to foster internal competition to improve performance
The Finding
There is no question, the authors say, that competition between employees
can have a positive, short-term effect on individual performance. But research demonstrates
time and again that the performance of the whole -- the whole department, the whole
company -- is much better served by encouraging teamwork. For one, almost all tasks
require teamwork for their optimum performance. Second, given the social nature of
human beings (the need for "camaraderie"), morale is boosted in a team setting and
this, in turn, boosts performance. The survey data show clearly that, on average,
working as a team is much less of a problem within units, such as departments, than
across units. The conflicts between units (such as between IT and its user divisions)
can be severe and debilitating for the individuals involved and for the company as a
whole. People come to work to work, not to fight. The authors suggest a specific method
for overcoming the misperceptions and distrust that are at the heart of most conflicts
within companies.
Back to The Enthusiastic Employee
