Whether competition is better than cooperation in our professional, school and personal lives is a complex question, and therefore causes disagreements among people. Personally, a cooperative environment has a far more profound impact on many aspects of our lives than rivalry.
Admittedly, competition can certainly have a positive effect in some ways. In the workplace, for instance, colleagues competing for a promotion or performance bonus often feel motivated to improve their skills or acquire new ones, and come up with more creative and efficient ways of carrying out their duties. As a result, their overall productivity tends to increase. The same can apply to schools, where a healthy amount of competition can push students to learn better, going beyond their school textbooks so that they can outperform their peers in exams. Finally, our personal lives can also improve because of competition. Friendly rivalry among family members in areas of sport and fitness is common. This can lead to a win-win situation, in which both “winners” and “losers” can benefits by developing a healthier physique.
However, cooperation seems to bring about far more noticeable advantages than competition. Competition, especially when poorly managed, can easily create tension and hostility among individuals. This in the long run can prove harmful to both personal relationships in personal lives and to productivity in workplace and schools. How can an environment where people silently hate each other foster motivation and productivity? In contrast, working cooperatively can allow for greater efficiency among employees by leveraging the individual talents and skills of each staff member. Moreover, collaboration in any aspect of our lives can contribute to a better sense of belonging, thereby creating new or strengthening existing bonds among people. After all, as social creatures, we find happiness in quality relationships rather than in material possessions or promotions.
In conclusion, although competition, in moderation, can be beneficial, it can inexorably lead to undesirable outcomes such as creation of a toxic workplace or classroom. Therefore, collaboration needs to be encouraged to achieve both greater efficiency, and a higher quality of life in general.
Written in around 30 minutes while multitasking like crazy.
Admittedly, competition can certainly have a positive effect in some ways. In the workplace, for instance, colleagues competing for a promotion or performance bonus often feel motivated to improve their skills or acquire new ones, and come up with more creative and efficient ways of carrying out their duties. As a result, their overall productivity tends to increase. The same can apply to schools, where a healthy amount of competition can push students to learn better, going beyond their school textbooks so that they can outperform their peers in exams. Finally, our personal lives can also improve because of competition. Friendly rivalry among family members in areas of sport and fitness is common. This can lead to a win-win situation, in which both “winners” and “losers” can benefits by developing a healthier physique.
However, cooperation seems to bring about far more noticeable advantages than competition. Competition, especially when poorly managed, can easily create tension and hostility among individuals. This in the long run can prove harmful to both personal relationships in personal lives and to productivity in workplace and schools. How can an environment where people silently hate each other foster motivation and productivity? In contrast, working cooperatively can allow for greater efficiency among employees by leveraging the individual talents and skills of each staff member. Moreover, collaboration in any aspect of our lives can contribute to a better sense of belonging, thereby creating new or strengthening existing bonds among people. After all, as social creatures, we find happiness in quality relationships rather than in material possessions or promotions.
In conclusion, although competition, in moderation, can be beneficial, it can inexorably lead to undesirable outcomes such as creation of a toxic workplace or classroom. Therefore, collaboration needs to be encouraged to achieve both greater efficiency, and a higher quality of life in general.
Written in around 30 minutes while multitasking like crazy.