Last week the Wall Street Journal featured an article by Joanne Lublin entitled, “To get ahead, rivals get along.” In the column Ms. Lublin pointed out that 73% of the heads of S&P 500 companies who were selected last year came from within, compared with 69% in 2017. Along with this rise, candidates with exceptional people skills are most desirable. “Employers now prefer to elevate highly collaborative executives.” Here is an example of just how important this quality can be:
Two years ago I was working with a company that had two internal candidates named Jim and Bob. They were applying for the same position. They like, trusted, and respected each other, and were willing to be a good sport about it if they weren’t selected. After one was selected, these two continued to work together and keep their relationship solid. Two years later, the candidate who was passed by was offered a management position at another location. It was just what he wanted. He has since excelled at the position, and has now been given another promotion. Jim and Bob both have a position in the company at a corporate level, and their ability to work together is exceptional. As the classic rule of synergy goes, Jim and Bob together are greater than the sum of the two.
If you are playing in sports, you play to beat the other team. That only makes sense. When it comes to competing with people on your own team, try competing against yourself. Like Bethoven and Shakespeare, strive to compete against yourself and your own record. Your team will be a combination of strengths.
