6 tips for dealing with highly competitive people

In business and in life: individuals with a great eagerness to compete and beat others.

In a society where productivity has become almost a religion, competitive people seem to have more incentive than ever to remain so, competitive people seem to have more incentive than ever to stay competitive..

In a society where productivity has become almost a religion, competitive people seem to have more incentive than ever to stay that way, this competitive spirit comes to the surface in all sorts of situationsIn the same way, the competitive spirit of people who want to compete with others in the number of followers they have on social networks such as Instagram, is also a key factor when it comes to being the neighbor with the best public image.

The result of this is that, today, almost all of us know a good number of competitive people who value the act of outperforming others more than the exhilaration of the effort itself. This can make these people prone to opportunism, manipulation, or even the desire to sacrifice all their work (and that of the people who work with them) to unprofitable projects simply to get ahead of other competitors.

Ways of dealing with competitive people

The above makes competitive people much more than the Muscle of companies and organizations; they can also be the spark that starts unnecessary conflicts, a source of anxiety about friends and family, and the propagators of a bad work climate.

Fortunately, there are ways to deal with this type of there are ways to deal with these types of people so that their more negative side is placated..

1. Not letting the other person's ego get the better of them.

An effective way to prevent competitive people from always trying to attract the attention of others is to, simply not rewarding this type of behavior.. For example, when at an informal gathering or party a person who is competing for attention is constantly interrupting others and talking about his or her experiences, tastes and opinions, you can politely ask him or her not to interrupt and, at the same time, let the conversation run its course.

In these cases it is a bad strategy to behave in the same way as the competitive person in question, rivaling them in a contest to see whose monologue wins out over the other, as this does not break with the logic of competitiveness.

2. Asserting yourself

When dealing with competitive people, it is not only important to maintain a relationship framework that is favorable to the majority; it is necessary to defend one's own rights. 

Therefore, if the arrogance and arrogance of the other person undermines our dignity, it is good to call attention so that such situations are not repeated and, incidentally, order can be maintained. In these cases, assertiveness is the key.

3. Controlling the work environment

If the negative effects of having a competitive person around make themselves felt at work, either because he/she uses unethical tricks to reach his/her goals or because he/she sets goals that are different from those planned, one of the strategies that can be followed is to intervene directly on the work climate by changing the reward system or by by changing the reward or "penalty" system. For example, if the person in question is trying to bring others down by hogging all the performance bonuses, limiting these motivational mechanisms is a very effective solution.

It is important to note that this is a measure with a collective impact, and that it does not affect only the competitive individual. However, this fact can also be an advantage, since it is taken as a fair measure that affects everyone equally.

4. Educate in principles of equality

If the competitive person in question is young and you are in a position to participate in his or her education and training, it is good to get him or her to reflect on the principles of equality, it is good to get them to reflect on the moral values behind their behavior and the way in which they fit in and how they fit into a culture that values equal opportunity. But this is not a task that should be undertaken only from theory; it can also be taught from the practice of games and group activities in which what matters most is the interest of the collective.

In medium-sized and large companies, it is becoming increasingly common to invite all their members to participate in collective games, such as soccer or paintball, for this reason. In this regard, for example, the case of a company located in China has attracted the attention of the media, which has developed a team of castellers (Catalan tradition) in which its workers can participate to make the most spectacular human towers.

5. Reverse engineering to discover the origin of competitive behavior

Often there are cases in which people who do not stand out for being competitive begin to engage in behavioral dynamics of extreme individualism.. 

In these cases it is quite possible that a recent change in the daily context of this person has had the effect of this change of attitude. Exploring the reasons for this transformation is one of the ways to manage the way this person affects us and sometimes even makes it possible for us to help them.

6. Managing fear and paranoia

When you are in a situation that is perceived as dangerous or high-risk, one of the first manifestations of fear and paranoia is the fear of being in a situation that is perceived as dangerous, one of the first manifestations of the anxiety and fear this produces is competitive behavior.. 

Not being able to trust anyone makes one see others as means to an end or, sometimes, as potential threats to protect oneself from. In these cases, communication and the establishment of agreements with guarantees are very useful to make this defensive attitude not a problem.