Cheer for the Competition

We’re wired to compete. From the classroom to the boardroom, the unspoken rule often sounds like this: If you’re winning, I must be losing.

But what if that’s wrong? What if the real leadership advantage isn’t guarding your turf, but genuinely cheering when someone else succeeds — even when they could have been your competition?

Recently, I taught my Rutgers Business School class and spoke to my students about maintaining a growth mindset throughout their careers. We covered many components, but one stood out more than the rest: Be genuinely happy when others succeed.

I told them this: cherish those friendships if you ever find people who root for you when they could have competed against you. And even more importantly — be that person.

The fact is that helping others rise isn’t a feel-good strategy. It’s a leadership advantage.

Research from Harvard Business School shows that people who adopt an abundance mindset—believing success is not limited—are more likely to build stronger networks, collaborate effectively, and achieve long-term career growth.

In other words: rooting for others fuels you. It protects your energy from burnout by shifting you out of scarcity mode. It builds trust and loyalty — the kind that compounds quietly and pays you back when you least expect it.

Helping others win doesn’t drain you. It multiplies what’s possible.

When you cheer for the competition, you grow the pie instead of fighting for a slice. You strengthen your network in ways no strategy session could engineer. And you fuel your leadership energy in a world that’s often running on empty.

Leadership today isn’t just about winning. It’s about helping others win — and watching how much farther you’ll go together.