How should I deal with overly competitive co-workers?

Let them win. It's that simple. Are you there to win a competition, or are you there to do your job well, get paid, and go home? It is very seldom that people work at a job where they have to outdo each other every day, because most jobs require teamwork over competition to succeed anyway. Most competitive people fail to realize that people see through their efforts to curry favor as shallow attempts to climb the career ladder through politics rather than hard work. Their efforts will be their own undoing. All you need to do is step back, get out of their way and wait for them to crash and burn...or move on to that high-level post that requires 60+ hour work weeks that no one else wants anyway.

Don't pay them any mind. In a sense, /humor/ them. Don't condescend or fall into their games. Just keep focus on your own work- nod and smile while letting anything to do/say roll off your shoulder. Keep focused in your own lane. The only person you have to be greater than- is who you were yesterday.

Do your job the best that you can and don't worry about what others are doing or think. If you do what you can the best that you can you'll be recognized for it.

Competition can be a positive but also negative thing. On one hand, it can help us achieve things in life but on the other, it can cause negative feelings about ourselves. Competitive spirit can be attributed to different things: Compensation for a feeling of inferiority, pressure from external sources to be "successful", a coping mechanism, past trauma, and many others. When I encounter a competitive person be it professionally, academically, or leisurely, I tend to take a compassionate view of them and think to myself, "Something is either going on, or has happened in this person's life to cause them to feel as though they need to prove something to themselves or others." So I just smile, internally acknowledge their spirit, and continue doing what I need to do to maintain my job, grades, or happiness.

A healthy approach could be to consciously differentiate between their behavioral drivers and your own. Having something to prove, seeking attention and praise, obsessive perfectionism, or other factors could be behind their excessively competitive attitude, while your own stance might be the more balanced one. Recognizing this, could help you disengage and ignore comments or behaviours that aim to drag you into a race that you have no interest being in.

For me, all you need to do is do what's tasked and do what you think is right. Remember that you're there to work, and not to compete with them. If they go overboard with their stuffs, tell your boss.

Sometimes it's best to just walk away. to avoid conflict. do your job and let them do them. If it get out of line and they are doing something against the rules then report it to the boss.

Because I do not know the nature of your work, it is a little difficult answering this question. However, there is an option. Some individuals tend to be overly competitive and focus on personal numbers. May I suggest trying to influence a team dynamic? As example, lets say your work strives on personal numbers. Perhaps you can add those numbers together and compete with outside businesses or other locations within your district/zone? This will strive teamwork and help the business grow with a positive, helpful atmosphere!

Concentrate on yourself and lead by example. Let them be as competitive as they like, dont lower yourself to their level, they cant compete if they aint in the same league. Employers want reliable, professional and hardworking so regardless of those around you, set personal goals and focus on those.

Remember that you are good at what you do and this shouldn't be compared with others. If they are competitive they are trying to make up for something. You can go a really good job without needing to live up to their standards.