Working Alone

I used to think that the sporting sector took the biggest flowers for redefining competition. It is obvious that I was wrong. It is true that in sports there are clear winners and loser, and every serious competitor competes for whatever price is on offer. You rarely see anyone who's comfortable being a mere participant and the consequences of not competing are quite obvious.

However, the office sometimes feels like a coliseum of sorts. Many are willing to go to great lengths to climb the corporate ladder and it rarely ever involves finding a helping hand. There are times I believe competition, even internally is important, but it seems like the majority of people in the corporate space see a competitive stance as the only stance to take, sometimes to the detriment of the company itself.

I can be competitive but it rarely ever shows. As a matter of fact I think it is so rare that it is buried deep somewhere. Of course the entire essence of competition is to make improvements and keep growing. Yet there are times when the essence seems lost in our actions. It seems to me like there are tasks that are unworthy of our absolute energy and effort. There are areas we should collaborate rather than compete in other to win.

The problem is that collaborating with an obvious ally is one thing, but how does one collaborate with a perceived opponent? Even in circumstances where it feels like the odds are primed for effective collaboration, some people are unwilling to cooperate with those they perceive as potential threats to their own growth and ambitions. It takes two to tangle, which is why many will rather embark on solo campaigns than expend too much effort in trying to force collaboration.