Workplace rivalry! Destructive or beneficial?

It can be very destructive. Companies always talk about how they are 'family' and no one wants to wake up every day and go to war with co-workers with self-esteem issues that if they get the ear of the wrong person can impact your career. It would be up to leadership to ensure rivalry/competition at work is healthy.

Typically it's highly beneficial

it can be beneficial, but have to watch out on how much are you promoting it.

I would say mostly destructive because it creates a negative work environment and culture. Mostly it happens when teams start unhealthy competition (aka. politics). But if rivalry is channeled in the right direction it is beneficial. For example in sales, it can lead to benchmarking opportunities, i.e. it will facilitate targeted improvement efforts. Another example is Enhanced creativity. Competition can spark creativity as individuals search for unique solutions to problems or ways to outshine their rivals. This can lead to the generation of new ideas and approaches that benefit the organization. But then again it should be healthy competition.

I think it is always destructive and one must focus more on collaboration in the workplace

For a large corporation where as the owner/founder/manager this is actually kind of necessary. Yes it's not perfect but it works, despite some side effects. But for a startup or a small team? Hell no

Remember, rivalry is not the same as competition. Competition can be healthy and productive, but rivalry is often destructive and counterproductive. If you find yourself in a rivalry with a colleague, try to focus on the competition rather than the rivalry. This means focusing on your own performance and goals, and trying to be the best that you can be.

Whether workplace rivalry is destructive or beneficial depends on a number of factors, including the culture of the organization, the personalities of the employees involved, and the way the rivalry is managed.

Destructive

It can damage morale

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In a healthy workplace, rivalry can be a positive force that drives innovation and productivity. However, in a toxic workplace, rivalry can lead to destructive behaviors that can damage morale and sabotage success.

Whether workplace rivalry is destructive or beneficial depends on a number of factors, including the culture of the organization, the personalities of the employees involved, and the way the rivalry is managed.

It can be beneficial if it motivates employees to work harder, be more creative, and produce better results.

Destructive! any sort of rivalry is destructive unless its in sports which is awesome. There are many other ways to keep you motivated (rewards specially)

Workplace rivalry can be beneficial when it promotes healthy competition and innovation, but it can be bad when it causes problems like fighting and not working together. It's important to make sure competition at work is healthy and not harmful.

Only if it's playful. When such a competition steps into the "serious" territory, when colleagues actually view each other as enemies, then you got trouble.

It seems to me that such rivalry is simply inherent in human nature and it is useless to fight it.

I believe it's destructive and you should prevent it at any cost.