Compete Fiercely. Collaborate Boldly.
Is it possible to compete and collaborate?
One of the greatest tensions leaders and entrepreneurs face is this: How do you compete hard without losing sight of the power of collaboration?
Too much competition breeds silos, secrecy, and mistrust. Too much collaboration blurs accountability and waters down performance. The magic happens when you find the balance; when you can shake a competitor’s hand in the boardroom while still chasing them on the scoreboard.
The greats don’t just compete against rivals - they compete for mindshare and lasting impact in the market. Recently, with one of our clients, we were interviewing the CEO and I asked him what made them different. He said: “In many cases I would reach out to our competitors on paper who have since become partners. We quickly realized the customers are better when we are working together to solve their problems.” That mindset is tough to compete against.
Redefining Competition
Healthy competition isn’t about tearing others down - it’s about raising the bar for yourself and your team. The best leaders treat competition the same way elite athletes do at practice: you push each other to get sharper, stronger, and more consistent. You can respect someone and still want to beat them. In fact, the respect makes the competition even more meaningful.
As a hockey fan, one of my favourite stories to tell is when I got to watch Nathan MacKinnon, Sidney Crosby, and Brad Marchand battle each other on the ice. We all know how close they are off the ice, but you’d never know it watching them fight for the puck - even in practice. That level of competition, rooted in respect, is what makes each of them elite.
Anchoring Collaboration in Shared Purpose
Collaboration works when it’s rooted in something bigger than ego or profit. Industries move forward when competitors align around shared goals - customer trust, community impact, safety, or innovation. Collaboration doesn’t mean giving away your secret sauce, but it does mean recognizing the areas where everyone wins by working together.
We’re seeing this more and more with iconic brands crossing industries. A recent example was Heinz teaming up with Coca-Cola to co-develop and scale sustainable packaging with the PlantBottle. Or Nike joining forces with Apple to build fitness technology that integrates seamlessly into daily life. When collaboration is anchored in shared purpose, customers win and loyalty follows.
Creating Clear Boundaries
Leaders have to be intentional about where to compete and where to collaborate. Protect your core differentiators, but share best practices that raise the entire industry. Rival firms might go head-to-head in sales but still join forces to advocate for better regulations, train the next generation of talent, or fund community initiatives. Boundaries make collaboration safer, clearer, and more effective.
The “Rising Tide” Mindset
The strongest entrepreneurs know that a rising tide lifts all boats. You can grow your company while also contributing to the ecosystem around you. Mentoring up-and-comers, supporting industry associations, or advocating for higher standards doesn’t make you weaker—it strengthens your reputation and builds a healthier market for everyone.
Modeling the Balance
This balance starts at the top. Leaders set the tone by how they treat competitors, partners, and even critics. Do you celebrate others’ wins? Do you invite collaboration where there’s mutual gain? Do you show your team that it’s possible to be fierce in performance yet generous in spirit? Your example becomes the culture.
The best companies are aligned with Leadership, Brand, and Culture - with a core focus on solving the customer problem, not just beating the competition.
Compete + Collaborate = Progress
The truth is, leadership today requires both edges. Compete to grow. Collaborate to build. The leaders who master both don’t just succeed in business - they change their industries.
The real win isn’t just gaining market share. The real win is advancing the game for everyone.
👉 Question for Leaders: Where in your world do you need to compete harder, and where do you need to collaborate more boldly?
