Competition or cooperation: which attitude to adopt?

Training Theme

This training explores the balance between competition and cooperation in the workplace. It shows that while competition can boost performance when it is well supervised, cooperation remains fundamental for team cohesion and innovation. Through case studies, expert videos and practical exercises, it guides participants towards a more mature approach combining the positive emulation of competition with the benefits of collaboration. The training emphasizes the shift from a win-lose mentality to a win-win dynamic, especially relevant in the age of artificial intelligence.

Training Objectives

In this online course, you will learn how to:

• Harness the best of competition for enhanced creativity and performance, without unhealthy rivalry.
• Adopt a benevolent attitude towards competitors and ensure adherence to rules and values.
• Use group competition, humor, and light-heartedness to stimulate a positive desire to win.
• Refrain from judging competitors and assist them in letting go.
• Move away from binary thinking and the win-lose belief to embrace cooperation.
• Always prioritize team cooperation over individual competition.

Target Audience 

Anyone wishing to increase cooperation in their personal and professional life.

Training Content 

This module contains 4 parts:

DISCOVER

• Identify your personal challenges and motivations for change.

SHAKING UP

• John Carlisle's "Game Theory" – study on 947 players and natural tendency to cooperate, impact of negotiation phases and common rules.
• Storytelling: Video Arthur and Morgane's Duel (1'48) – a professional duel revealing the intricacies between cooperation and competition.
• Quizzes.

LEARN

• Expert video: Competition or cooperation (12'03) – analysis of competition culture from school, workplace impacts, and transition to collaboration.
• Quiz and TRUE/FALSE on competition and cooperation.
• Reflection on cooperation with machines.

ANCHOR

• Move away from binary thinking (Cooperate = win-win).
• Case study: Air France Mini Hackathons.
• Use concrete examples to define your own commitment to change.

Additional resources

• Downloadable documents: Coaching memo sheet (PDF)
• Bonus: TED or Youtube video(s)