Workplace Competition

Meet Jerry. Jerry has been with the organization for 18 months and is bored in his current role. He comes to work on time, dresses professionally, does his job, and avoids workplace theatrics. As far as Jerry is concerned, he is doing all of the right things from a performance standpoint and hopes to advance soon. If you and Jerry have a lot in common, that might not be a good thing. While Jerry is doing just as he should, a race is never won when your speed doesn't increase. In other words, competition in the workplace is real and if you plan to stay ahead of your peers, being average should NOT be your goal. Your employer pays you to arrive as scheduled, to adhere to appearance guidelines, and to meet performance standards. If you are interested in career growth and want to be recognized, you should EXCEED the expectation, not meet it. Having a competitive edge means:

*You should perform consistently above average. If your employer uses a 5-point scale and 3 is the expectation, you should strive for nothing less than a 4. If you are unsure what it takes to perform at a level greater than 3, partner with your leader to develop a plan with realistic goals.

*Volunteering for an additional assignment. When your leader asks for a volunteer, not only do you have an opportunity to grow; you gain exposure. Exposure allows you to interact with those that you may not typically work with on a daily basis. Networking will open doors that performance alone will not.

*Increasing your professional capital. This means that you decide which battles are worth fighting, that you understand your own motivation, and that you act strategically on behalf of the organization's mission and goals.

*Becoming an excellent communicator and not becoming obsolete. Not only should you understand different communication styles, but your listening skills should be exceptional. Regularly upgrading your skills and competencies allows you to not only gain information, but to share the information with your peers.

Jerry is a nice guy and a good employee, but his leader is probably looking for someone who is better than good to receive a departmental promotion. Being average will yield average results and none of us can afford to be average in today's competitive workplace. If you are interested in winning the career race, get in professional shape before an opportunity presents itself. This way, when the right door opens, you won't need training because you have prepared ahead of time.