Hypercompetitive people can be a damaging presence in the workplace. They’re the kind of people who feel like they need to win at any cost. They’re not good at working with others because they care more about their own interests and gaining status than helping the team to succeed. They have a tendency to take credit for work that they didn’t entirely do, and take charge of high-profile projects that they’re not really qualified to manage.

People tend to react to hypercompetitive coworkers in one of two ways:

  • They try to “rise to the challenge” by becoming extremely competitive – and adopting many of the same self-serving behaviors used by their hypercompetitive coworker.
  • They try to avoid the hypercompetitive coworker altogether. They don’t want to compete, so they stop participating at meetings or contributing their ideas.

These reactions can have a damaging effect on office teamwork, productivity, and morale.

So what should you do if you find yourself working with a hypercompetitive coworker? You should begin by talking to your boss. Tell your boss that you want to be included in important meetings and high-profile projects, and make sure that your boss is aware of the work you do and what you contribute to the team.

Next, if possible, try talking to your hypercompetitive coworker. Try to start off in a positive way by talking about the good qualities that the coworker has and how much you appreciate those things. Then tell your coworker about the behaviors that you find upsetting or problematic. Provide specific examples of these behaviors so that your coworker will clearly understand what you’re talking about. And then ask your coworker to change.

This won’t be easy. Confrontations are always uncomfortable and difficult. (You might want to practice what you’re going to say with a friend beforehand.) But it’s likely to be worth the effort. If you don’t address the problem, the hypercompetitive behaviors will continue, and your office will continue to be a stressful place to work.

 

Shellenbarger, S. (2016, April 20). How do you survive office competition? The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from http://www.wsj.com/articles/how-do-you-survive-office-competition-1461088682?tesla=y