Manangment Tip of the day - Learn From Your Rivals

HBR :FEBRUARY 15, 2013 Competing with a work colleague can feel like a waste of time. Why do you care so much about what she does? Why is she obsessing about your accomplishments? But rivalries like these can help answer two important questions: What are my weaknesses? Rivalry is often a form of envy: Your competitor has a trait or skill you (sometimes grudgingly) admire. If you find something incredibly irritating about him, think about whether it's because you lack the very competency you're criticizing. Am I thinking big enough? Stalking a rival can unlock breakthrough possibilities for growth. If she is inventing a new product or launching a new initiative, is there something you can do that would have an even bigger impact? Today's Management Tip was adapted from "What You Can Learn from Your Professional Rivals" by Dorie Clark.