I’m no stranger to the competitive spirit. As I navigate my life and work, that sense of competition has driven me to sharpen my skills, pay attention to the details, and provide the best I have to offer to my colleagues and clients alike. Even in my hobbies, I see my competitive spirit thriving — as an endurance runner, I’m always pushing for peak performance.
I believe that there are plenty of advantages to the Type A personality that we often see behind those who enjoy a little competition. They’re assertive go-getters who want to get it done and get it done well. They want to be on top and better than the rest. This trait often motivates us to accomplish new things and get better at the old ones.
At the same time, the competitive spirit can be harmful, particularly in leadership. In part, this is because competition is inherently an individualistic activity. Leadership is not!
Through my experiences as a real estate professional, an entrepreneur, athlete, and father, I have grown more and more aware of how the competitive spirit I feel tends to help — and hurt — my goals, particularly when it comes to leadership.
3 Ways a Competitive Spirit is Beneficial
1) It pushes innovation.
One of the greatest advantages afforded to those with a competitive spirit is their penchant — and openness — to innovation. When you approach life with that spirit of competition, you are willing to see new avenues and opportunities to get ahead. Those who lack this quality are slow to change, slow to adapt to the new, and much more comfortable doing things the way they’ve always done.
That fierce fire of competition, however, gives us that drive for the new and the better. We’re always looking for areas and ways to improve, which gives us the flexibility and adaptability that is so absolutely necessary in today’s business world. Getting ahead means refusing to grow complacent and always looking for new things to learn.
2) It teaches you to take losses.
Anyone who has achieved any measure of success in their lives knows that failure and loss are just part of it. So many of the greats of business and leadership have found themselves knocked down — but not out. And that’s the key. A competitive fire in your belly will put you back on your feet. You won’t go down without a fight! Let your drive, your aggression to achieve, help you bounce back from setbacks.
3) It opens up your ability to learn and listen.
At its best, a competitive spirit is highly collaborative. If we are able to recognize that we are lacking in some areas, that spirit will drive you to work with others. Because you naturally want to better yourself, your business, or your performance in one area or another, you will seek out and listen to professionals and other experienced individuals. You will learn from and with your team. A competitive spirit doesn’t have to be inherently ego-centric.
When properly channeled, it creates in us a desire to connect and collaborate.
3 Ways a Competitive Spirit is Detrimental
1) It can become obsessive.
In leadership, we have to maintain a balance between the zoomed-in details and the wide scope, the broader picture. Unfortunately, while a competitive spirit can lend itself to great qualities, it can also bring out some nasty ones. An obsession with perfection or achievement can emerge. This can be paralyzing (in the case of perfectionism) as much as it can drive us to extremes. You might find yourself fixating on opportunities for a “rematch” or to one-up the competition. You want to be on top. You want to be right! The fixation on power, achievement, or coming out in the first place can shift our attention in harmful ways that miss the big picture and the real problems.
2) It can manifest arrogance.
The primary downfall of a competitive spirit is its temptation towards egocentrism. We have to be careful that we don’t get full of ourselves when we’re at the top! Your competitive nature can push you to belittle and underestimate others that you feel you are “better” than in some way. This is a dangerous place to be, as it hinders not only interpersonal relationships but gives you significant blindspots on your own shortcomings.
3) It can misplace your priorities.
My family has always emphasized the importance of reputation. After all, they say that it takes years to build a good reputation and only moments to tear it all down. The preservation of our reputations as leaders — our credibility, our ethics, our service — is paramount. A competitive spirit can drive us to do all of these things.
Unfortunately, it can also do the opposite. Our priorities can get mixed up if our biggest concern is “winning.” It can lead to damaging behaviors from taking shortcuts to being downright underhanded. Don’t let your drive to win compromise what you really believe in!
How does a competitive spirit spur you on as a leader? Share in the comments.