TOP DOG ~ Explores the science of competition

Award-winning journalist Ashley Merryman, co-author of “Top Dog,” which explores the science of competition, put it simply and succinctly: “The benefit of competition is improvement.”

Think about it. What better time to be focused on improvement, innovation, invention and initiative than when we need times to get better? If we truly hope to turn things around, we have to start thinking more like worthy competitors and less like weary survivors.

Of course, if the benefit of competition is improvement, learning is the engine that drives it. There can be no improvement without new knowledge, skills, capabilities and understanding. In today’s global economy, strategic workforce development is not merely a way to increase productivity and reduce costs. When integrated with progressive talent management, purposeful succession planning and a supportive enterprise-wide culture of learning, it’s a powerful source of game-changing creativity and competitive advantage.

Merryman and her co-author Po Bronson make another simple and succinct point in their book. Competition facilitates creative output by supplying motivational drive. It is the learning organization’s destiny to motivate everyone to pursue learning, embrace competition and strive for continuous improvement.

Love to hear from my learned colleagues in this regard.