Stop Competing With Each Other

"Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean." - Ryunosuke Satoro

You know, there are a lot of decisions in life that lose their luster with time. That overly aggressive business strategy that seemed so crucial in the heat of the moment, that petty rivalry with another team in the company—these things age about as well as milk left out in the sun. Looking back, you might question why you were so obsessed with outdoing your colleagues instead of focusing on a collective goal.

But do you know what never spoils with time? The memories and results that come from fostering a collaborative environment. Think about it. Have you ever looked back and regretted the times when you built a cohesive, strong team? The answer is most likely no, and for good reason. In the same way that no parent ever regretted spending quality time with their children, no leader ever regretted investing in teamwork and unity.

You might be thinking right now about how much more your team could achieve if only they stopped seeing each other as competition. How much innovation is lost when people hoard their ideas, fearing someone else might get the credit? How many problems go unresolved because everyone thinks it's someone else's responsibility?

Here's a radical idea: What if, instead of focusing solely on KPIs and quarterly targets, you started measuring the health of relationships within your team? Took the time to actually gauge how well your people are collaborating. Now, I’m not suggesting you throw metrics and accountability out the window. No, accountability is still the cornerstone. But it's time to realize that accountability doesn't have to be a solitary journey. In fact, accountability thrives in a culture of trust, open communication, and mutual support.

In the chaos of deadlines and performance reviews, it's easy to forget that work isn't just about churning out projects or hitting numbers. It's about the collective spirit of a team working in harmony toward a shared objective. Competing with each other is like competing for oxygen in a sealed room; it's not only counterproductive but destructive in the long run. As the late Bill Walsh would say, "The score takes care of itself."

It's never too late to change the narrative. Maybe it means revisiting your leadership approach, maybe it involves team-building exercises, or perhaps it's about redefining your performance metrics to include teamwork. Whatever the change, make it. Take the day off from individual rivalries and invest it in collective brainstorming. Divert some time from scrutinizing individual performance metrics to host a session that fosters team spirit.

Much like cutting a business trip short to catch your child's play, these are the things that stand the test of time. They're the choices that age well, not just in your mind but in the soul of your team. Because when you create an environment where everyone lifts each other up instead of pulling each other down, the whole becomes far greater than the sum of its parts.

Years down the line, you might question many of the decisions you made as a leader, but promoting a culture of teamwork and unity? That’s one choice you'll look back on with pride and fulfillment, forever.