Avoid the trap of comparison at Work Place

What is a Comparison Trap ? In the year 1954 , psychologist Leon Festinger , coined a theory by the name "Social Comparison Theory" who hypothesized that the concept of Comparison has come up from the thought of evaluating ourselves . At its root, the impulse is connected to the instant judgments we make of other people—a key element of the brain's social-cognition network that can be traced to the evolutionary need to protect oneself and assess threats."Inevitably, we relate information about others to ourselves," says Thomas Mussweiler, a professor of organizational behavior at London Business School.

Our comparison-targets, as researchers refer to them, tend to be those we most closely identify with as well as those within our personal orbit. So while , we stay at our work place our close orbit is our colleagues with whom we connect immediately for comparison.What this comparison brings to us ? A disturbed mind, An unwanted jealousy, A crab mentality to pull one down, and over all it kills our potential from within.

When we compare at workplace , what are the common things which trigger at first , Lets see that first : Salary , boss 's favorite, role challenges, new responsibilities etc.etc. It is very easy to comment on other's capability and create a gossip of other's being more favored, but have we ever thought of - what can we do to our expertise to shine better ? Probably not . As its easy to comment on others rather than justifying your own performance , and when observing I have always seen that we do feel a separate happiness when we compare people .When I really , think of this or I see this practice I feel , its rather such a truth to point at others and not seeing the other four fingers pointing self .

Its my first hand understanding which I experimented , on myself that being a human being there is an inner trigger which influence us negatively (obviously, being me a human I also probably practiced this knowingly and unknowingly ) then I followed the theory of self gap analysis - simple process to start off

1. Telling self I am best in what I do and if I need to go more ahead what areas I need to survive with new learning
2. Appreciating the skills people are good in and learning from them so that they also feel privileged
3. Talking with conviction - means that not appreciating on situations but make it a habit of on-spot
4. What is my worth and what more can I do to increase my worth

Am I consistent to what I do , or I waste my time by comparing with others . Start this and you will feel the worth of avoiding comparison and encouraging competition.