I have been up against tough competition all my life. I wouldn’t know how to get along without it. – Walt Disney
The Olympic Games are underway. Are you enjoying them? If you are like me, you are a competitive person; especially in sports. I do not like to lose and will play my heart out to win. That, I suppose, is what competition is about; no one plays to lose. But in business, do you understand the purpose of competition? When you understand the purpose of competition then you will understand why it is good. Here are three observations to help you understand the power of competition.
Competition brings focus. When you are focused on the tasks at hand you have little time to worry about other things. Don’t lose focus of what’s really important. Rather than worry about who your competition is and what you can’t control, focus on your priorities and what you can control. Tune out your distractions so that you can concentrate on your objectives and achieve your goals.
Competition is a neutralizer. The lesson here is simple. Smart leaders will neutralize their competition not by obsessing over them, but by training their own teams to be better. The by-product is that they outsmart them. How? Through strategic planning, focused leadership, and excellence in customer service.
Competition is a motivator. Healthy competition is a good motivator. Whether the forum is in sports, business, or academics, etc., competition will motivate you to be your best. The secret is not to be distracted by the competition so as to lose your focus, but to allow it to bring out your best qualities that will give you a competitive advantage.
Competition is good and competitors make great teachers. The key for you is to learn from them, respect them, but never be intimidated by them. Let them bring you focus, neutralize them, and let them motivate you to be your best.
What do you think?
© 2012 Doug Dickerson
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