How to Build a Competitive Work Culture to Foster Workplace Productivity

In many workplaces, company culture comes second to deadlines. These organizations miss out on a culture that drives productivity, efficiency and collaboration across a multigenerational workforce. This article explains how to build a competitive work culture that keeps competition healthy and productive.

Use competitions to build teams

Many successful companies run in-house competitions in which several departments form teams around a shared competitive goal. These competitions have improved company returns and encouraged coworkers to work together, coach one another and cheer on their peers.

How do you keep workplace competition positive?

A competitive workplace should feel positive to employees. Competitions should never push people to turn against each other or create resentment and anxiety toward colleagues.

Every competition should offer something of value to each employee, such as a chance to build soft skills and become more productive.

Keep it simple

When employees come up with original ideas, they can help the business reach new customers and markets. But launching a new product or service, or even improving current procedures, is rarely easy. Keeping competitions simple, with clear goals, makes it easier for employees to take part and contribute ideas.

Pair employees deliberately

Random pairings can work, but you may get more from pairing coworkers on purpose. You might match high and low performers, or a long-serving employee with a recent college graduate.

These pairings create chances for mentoring and one-on-one coaching from your best people. They also let more employees get involved, share ideas and think creatively.

Key takeaways

Workplace culture is one of the strongest drivers of productivity. Healthy, positive competition among employees can raise productivity when the steps above are applied with care.