Posted by Dave Lorenzo - Business Coach

The competition need not be feared. After all, if you’re in the same line of work, you have a lot in common and can learn from each other. They’re not going anywhere, so you may as well make the best of them. I asked the panel of professionals:

In your career, who is your competition? What have you learned from them?

Other PR and design agencies, as well as companies bringing in their own designers to work internally. I have learned so much from them—both what and what not to do. I often try to form partnerships with people so I can learn more. (Jill, Marketing/PR Creative Director)

If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, they say. You’re going to benefit much more from having talented competitors on your side than standing in opposition to them.

Young adults with time on their hands to experiment with new technologies to leverage existing paradigms. I can’t do it all by myself. I can’t learn everything I want to or develop all my ideas by myself. However, with my situation I often collaborate with colleagues or hire contractors to fill in my inadequacies. (Will, Web Designer/Database Administrator)

I commend Will for his realizations. No one can do it all, and we can all learn from what our colleagues and competitors are doing. Don’t discount the possibility that developing relationships with your competitors might actually result in leads and new business for you. It happens all the time.

I suppose the other nurses are my competition, but it doesn’t feel like that. The biggest thing I have learned from the competition is what not to do. (Jane, Nurse)

One of the most important things you can observe in competitors and colleagues is their mistakes, and the ways in which they fall short of customers needs and expectations. Even major corporations have weak spots, and you can take advantage of opportunities to fill those gaps.

I think my competition is my boss, unfortunately. She loves to micromanage me, which I can’t stand, and she’s been very clear that she doesn’t want me going any further than I already have. (Lynn, Operations Management Supervisor)

This is a red flag situation. If Lynn is not able to talk to her boss about advancement, I would recommend she speak to someone else at her company, or considering moving on to a place that will allow her to develop in her career. If you feel held back in your current position, you really need to assess why that is and what you can do about it.

Two other people who were hired at the same time and trained with me. I make every effort to go above and beyond what is asked of me. It sounds cheesy, but people know my name already. (Marianne, Forensics Researcher)

Marianne has only been with her new employer for a few weeks, so it is certainly noteworthy that people know her name. Invest the time and energy in making a great impression right from the start. Let your new colleagues know that you’re there to get the job done and contribute your own unique value.

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