by Debra Steele

Created on: July 28, 2009

Creating a competitive workforce can cause a positive or negative environment. When you create an environment where everyone is competing against each other, the workplace environment can turn into a hostile place which is a breeding ground for unethical procedures and actions.

Competitive means to have a strong desire to win or be more successful than other people and in this situation the other people are your employees. This means employees will be competing against each other. The main focus any company should have when implementing programs that encourage competition is positive productivity. The goal in a competitive workforce is to increase the company's revenue, and customer satisfaction ratings. The workplace environment should be positive, friendly, and fun. Here are some suggestions to get you started in creating a competitive workforce.

1. Ask your employees what programs, or games they would enjoy partaking in that would increase productivity.

Always get your employees input before implementing or changing company programs or workplace games. This way your staff feels wanted, needed, and a part of the process giving them ownership.

2. Have a competitive program that includes a continuous, long term, monetary reward.

Depending on the type of company, this type of monetary reward is earned by the one that is the highest producer in sales, accounts, total amount collected, or over all customer satisfaction. Each one of these areas can be rewarded separately. so that a different person can win in each category, or all of these areas can be combined so that the person that wins does top performance in all areas. This type of program produces continuous increase in productivity and is rewards on the person pay check.

3. Instant gratification

This type of reward is earned instantly. This is a friendly contest that is given a specific period of time to achieve a goal and the winners receive a reward on the spot in the form of a store gift card, gas card, restaurant certificate, a product ( TV, DVD played ....), or cash. These type of games produce sporadic productivity increases which may not have long term effects on the companys overall numbers but will produce a positive, friendly workplace atmosphere among the coworkers.

Creating a competitive workforce can be fun and rewarding. All programs and games should be printed out and explained in detailed to each employee that is involved. That way your staff is given ownership and is responsible for following company rules and given a choice whether to participate or not. Its all about productivity, and customer satisfaction which determines job security.

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