The Competitive Doldrums

Competition amongst you and your colleagues can be a healthy motivator. Each new listing that your office mate posts on the board can spur you on to business activity to generate your own new listing. However, all too often I see the success of others eating away at my coaching clients. Here’s how to combat the competitive doldrums.

1. Congratulate your colleague. Yes, that’s right, the very person you don’t want to recognize right now deserves recognition for their achievement. Don’t be a sourpuss. You know how much work it takes to get new business. Offer your acknowledgment of that. What goes around comes around and your good nature will be remembered.
2. Make the decision to up your game. Rather than let your colleague’s success deflate you, use it to bolster yourself. Okay, they have more business than you right now, so what are you going to do about it? Sitting at your desk and wallowing in self-pity and resentment isn’t going to win you new business. Scheduling business development activities, calling clients, and getting out and meeting new people will.
3. Understand that hard work, not luck, is the pre-cursor to business. When I was selling real estate, I used to hear the “You are so lucky” refrain from many of my colleagues. Luck has nothing to do with it. Hard work has everything to do with your success. Be honest with yourself, how hard are you working?
4. Set goals and visualize your game plan. Setting your eye on where you want to be is the first step in realizing your goals. If you don’t know where you are going, how do you know the way there? Set the goal and then work backwards. You know what it takes to get that new listing, so now go do it.