Many of us love competition and, more important, winning. Competition drives us toward our goals and motivates us to improve our performance, while the prestige and power that come from winning can provide a powerful morale booster. What’s more, winning increases testosterone and dopamine hormones, which, in turn, increases our confidence and willingness to take risks, and thus our chances of further success.
When Competition Between Coworkers Leads to Unethical Behavior
Being compared to others can increase bad behavior.
December 12, 2018
Summary.
When competition is fierce, the need to win can blind us to ethical considerations. It’s a potential problem in all kinds of areas: colleagues who have a strong rivalry at work, managers who need to make their numbers for the quarter, even political parties that spend campaign funds to attract votes. A common theme in these situations is that there are only a few winning slots — and maybe just one — with massive stakes in terms of money, advancement, and fame. New research finds that performance evaluation schemes based on peer comparison can encourage unethical behavior. In several studies, the researchers tested how and when these comparisons influence the likelihood of unethical choices.
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New!
HBR Learning
Strategic Thinking Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Strategic Thinking. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Make thinking on a bigger scale second nature.