Survey: Executives Say Coworker Competitiveness Has Increased in Last Decade

MENLO PARK, Calif., Aug. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- While Olympic athletes go for
the gold in Beijing, workers at home may be experiencing their own
competition, suggests a recent survey. Almost half (46 percent) of senior
executives interviewed said they believe employees are more competitive with
each other today than they were 10 years ago.
The study was conducted by an independent research firm and developed by
OfficeTeam, a leading staffing service specializing in the placement of highly
skilled administrative professionals. The survey is based on telephone
interviews with 150 senior executives from the largest companies in the United
States.
Executives were asked, "In your opinion, are employees more or less
competitive with their coworkers than they were 10 years ago?" Their
responses:
Significantly more competitive 12%
Somewhat more competitive 34%
No change 24%
Somewhat less competitive 23%
Significantly less competitive 3%
Don't know 4%
100%

"In an uncertain economy, people grow more concerned about job security
and proving their worth to employers," said Dave Willmer, executive director
of OfficeTeam. "This pressure to perform may result in rivalries between
employees."
Willmer added, "A bit of healthy competition among staff can increase
motivation and productivity, but, just as in sports, the overall results of
the team are what count. Too much intramural competition creates tension and
stands in the way of collaboration."
OfficeTeam has identified five common "workplace competitors," along with
strategies for discouraging them from taking competition too far:
-- The Sprinter -- This employee races to the finish on projects,
sometimes overlooking the details. Commend him on his long-term view and
enthusiasm, but encourage him to avoid cutting corners in the process.
-- The Weightlifter -- This employee views her achievements in terms of
quantity rather than quality, often taking on more projects than she can
reasonably accomplish satisfactorily and on time. Offer to redistribute some
of her work among others and encourage her to focus on doing a first-rate job
rather than attempting to do too much at once.
-- The Gymnast -- This person aims for perfection and tends to want to
complete projects on her own. While her bends and flips may be impressive, you
may have to diplomatically counsel her to channel her talents more toward team
goals rather than spending her time on solo routines.
-- The Pole Vaulter -- No challenge is too great for this employee, who
lobbies to take on the highest-profile projects. While this can-do spirit is
helpful, it's important to not let this worker monopolize all of the most
challenging assignments.
-- The Saboteur -- This athlete is present in every sport. He's the runner
who trips others near the finish line, the soccer player who always gets the
yellow card or the basketball player who is ejected for unsportsmanlike
conduct. His struggle to get ahead at the expense of others ends up damaging
his team's chances. Explain to him the value of playing by the rules and
focusing his energy on collaborating with colleagues rather than personal
glory.
Survey Methodology
The national survey was conducted by an independent research firm and
developed by OfficeTeam, a leading staffing service specializing in the
placement of highly skilled administrative professionals. The survey is based
on telephone interviews with 150 randomly selected senior executives at the
nation's 1,000 largest companies.
About OfficeTeam
OfficeTeam provides businesses with the highly skilled administrative
talent they need to maximize productivity, achieve cost efficiency and support
full-time staff. The staffing firm has more than 300 locations worldwide and
offers online job search services at http://www.officeteam.com.
SOURCE OfficeTeam

Abby Goodman of OfficeTeam, +1-650-234-6289, abby.goodman@officeteam.com