The pros and cons of encouraging competitive behaviour in business have long been debated, with some studies showing that for 25% of us, competition is an ineffective or negative motivator, and can even drive people into making harmful business choices rather than innovative ones.
Competition is based on pitting yourself against others in a win/lose scenario. Focussing on your competitors activities keeps you in a constant state of comparing, measuring, and judging your business according to everyone else’s’ criteria and distracts you from seeking out the unique and creative opportunities that exist for you.
Rather than look at where you think you must compete, view your business from a broader picture of exploring the innovation and inspiration uniquely available to you. Innovation and inspiration are not born from judgment and comparison – in fact, quite the opposite. If you eliminate competitive perspectives and you will begin to see possibilities where others do not, and you will function in a far more creative realm.
Here are three simple ways you can move beyond competitive attitudes that may be harming your business, to inspired and innovative practices that will keep you growing – no matter what anyone else is doing.
1. Be aware of what others are doing, but do what works for your business
When you are locked in a competitive mindset, you become stuck trying to do a better version of what others are doing. You won’t see the possibilities beyond what other businesses are creating, which could be a major limitation for you. Being aware, on the other hand, is seeing what other companies are choosing, while knowing you don’t have to do what they are doing to be successful. Even if something works for their business, the question you need to ask is, will it work for your business? Or are there other opportunities to do things better in a totally different, original or even more profitable way?
Competition narrows your focus, awareness broadens it. Rather than trying to figure out how to beat the competition, asking a question such as, “What am I aware of that would create more for my business today?” will invite far more ideas, inspiration and innovation.
2. Reflect your values and differences in your business
The danger of competing with other businesses is buying into the misconception that you are on the same playing field as them. You may end up emulating their strategies, ideas and values, even when they are not congruent with your own.
The quickest way to lose your innovative and creative edge is by undervaluing the impact your own brilliance and difference can have. Take a moment to do a “health check” with your business:
What are your values in business?
What difference do you desire to make in the world with your business?
What is unique about you and your business?
Are your business practices and strategies congruent with the values and impact you desire to make?
Are they leveraging and taking advantage of the difference you are and have to offer?
If not, what can you implement to change that?
If so, what else is possible?
Trying to be something you are not will never work as well as being all that you are to the best of your ability. This goes the same for your business, too.
3. Trust your instincts
Competitive attitudes put you in constant judgment, forever second-guessing and analyzing your choices, trying to figure out if they were right or wrong. Functioning in this way creates a lot of inner conflict, stress, anxiety, and ultimately undermines your own confidence and self-trust.
No matter what is popular with your business competitors, trusting you will always take you further towards success. You can still listen to advice and receive information from other experts and businesses around you, but trust your instincts most of all.
One simple way to stay out of judgment and keep your business growing is to see everything that shows up as an opportunity, not a problem. If something goes “wrong” in your business or doesn’t have the result you hoped for, rather than assume you’ve done something wrong, ask, “How can I use this to my advantage?” When something goes well, instead of assuming it was the right decision and you must now stick to it forever, ask, “How can I use this to my advantage to create something even greater?”
Asking these questions shifts your attention onto your own innovative capacities and insights and eliminates the need to look to others for the answers to your business success.
Competition and being competitive isn’t intrinsically bad or wrong – but it won’t lead you to the success you are capable of. There is no other business like yours: you are a playing field of your own, and so you are the only one who can truly compete with you. Stop comparing you or your business to anyone else. Trust you, make choices based on what works for your business, and ask questions that inspire your innovation and creativity. Take the focus off your competitors and put your attention on what you are best at – being uniquely you in business.
