Management Tip of the Day: Learn From Your Rivals

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser. HOME   |   TIPS   |   BLOGS   |   THE MAGAZINE   |   BOOKS   |   STORE RSS   |   Mobile FEBRUARY 15, 2013 Learn From Your Rivals 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. Read the full post and join the discussion » Share Today's Tip: FEATURED PRODUCT Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works Ebook Now Available A.G. Lafley and Roger Martin — one of the most successful business duos of the past century. With Lafley at the helm of P&G during its renowned turnaround and Martin as his strategic partner and adviser, they helped to double P&G's sales and push both profits and market value through the roof. Now it's time for you to take a page from their strategy playbook. PLAYING TO WIN, available now. It's the book everyone is talking about. "Strategy lessons, 101..." — Financial Times. "a fascinating tale..." — The Economist. ADVERTISEMENT Follow the Tip: PREVIOUS TIPS Defuse Difficult People Revise and Edit Your Writing Project Always Say Yes to Networking How to Handle Your Conflict-Averse Boss Get the Parental Leave You Want Avoid Technology Glitches at Your Next Presentation How to Respond to a Customer Revolt Don't Let Failure Ruin Your Dreams Divide Your Writing Project into Manageable Tasks Know If Your Candidate Is Serious About the Job All Previous Tips BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials HBR's 10 Must Reads Boxed Set HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations HBR Guide to Better Business Writing HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done Introducing Mobile ManageMentor Powered by the proven content of Harvard ManageMentor™ iTunes >> Android >> UNSUBSCRIBE   |   UPDATE YOUR PROFILE   |   MORE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS   |   PRIVACY POLICY Was this email forwarded to you? If so, sign up to start receiving your own copy. ABOUT THIS MAILING LIST You have received this message because you subscribed to the "Management Tip of the Day" email newsletter from Harvard Business Review. If at any point you wish to remove yourself from this list, change your email address, or sign up for other email newsletters and alerts, please visit the Harvard Business Review Email Newsletter Preference Center. OPT OUT If you do not wish to receive any email messages from Harvard Business Review, click here. ADVERTISE WITH HBR This enewsletter is read by thousands of decision makers every day. Learn more about connecting your brand with this audience. Copyright © 2013 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing | 60 Harvard Way | Boston, MA 02163 Customer Service: 800-545-7685 (+1-617-783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada)