Workplace rivalry boosts individual performance but may harm teams

Workplace rivalry may boost individual performance while reducing team effectiveness, according to research presented by Henning Piezunka, associate professor of management at the Wharton School, on 2 October 2026.

The research examines professional basketball rivalries, including Larry Bird versus Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant versus Michael Jordan, to illustrate how competition between individuals can affect collective outcomes. Players facing individual rivals may score more while making their teams less effective, Piezunka states in the presentation.

The findings suggest that rivalry may come with an unexpected cost: competition can bring out the best in individuals but may make an entire team worse, according to the research.

What it means

The research explores implications for workplace competition, employee incentives, and managers trying to build successful teams, according to the presentation. The tension between individual and collective performance raises questions about how organizations structure internal competition.

The study does not provide quantified workplace data or specific recommendations for managers. The basketball examples serve as illustrations rather than direct workplace evidence.