Can you collaborate and compete at the same time?
One of the perks of being a freelancing consultant is the opportunity to meet senior leadership team members constantly and have some deep conversations on their challenges, team challenges, and thus opportunities for coaching.
I recently had a thought-provoking conversation with a senior leader who questioned the value of group coaching. Their reasoning? They viewed fellow senior Delivery Directors as competitors and were hesitant to expose their challenges. Yet, within my vibrant ICF Chennai community of fellow coaches on independent journeys, we share the same competitive space. Here, there’s no fear, no judgment, and certainly no running away from collaboration.
This led me to reflect on how we can compete and collaborate effectively.
Here are my insights:
1. Mindset Shift: Is competition something to shield ourselves from, or an opportunity for mutual growth? Seeing competitors as trainers can reshape our approach to challenges.
2. Fuelling Industry Growth: Collaborating with competitors can elevate the entire industry that we are in, enhancing the end-client experience and setting higher standards overall.
3. Normalizing Imperfection: In group settings, we realize we’re not alone in facing similar struggles. Counter-intuitively, Shedding the burden of perfection paves the way for personal growth and the pursuit of excellence.
I’m curious to hear your thoughts and experiences. How do you
navigate the delicate balance of competing and collaborating in your field?
Let’s start a conversation and learn from one another! 🤝💡 #CompeteToCollaborate#CoachingCommunity#growthmindsetcoach#growthmindset#icfcoach#icfcoaching#nammachennai#judgement#learningprogress