Annoyed by super ambitious coworker

[Anonymous]

I’d say she and I are probably the star performers on our team. We have different strengths but I notice that she is ambitious and competent although very very competitive.

I was feeling pretty good about my career progress until I discovered that she is several steps ahead of me in getting noticed and developing influence. Our team recently started using Asana and while we were all figuring it out and learning to use it, she jumps in and decides to be the Asana expert. Now she is creating templates and boards for everyone. And our boss is eating it up.

I’m so annoyed!! I don’t want to use her templates as I make great templates on my own!

[Anonymous]

So just start using your own great templates and let people see them. Go be an expert in a different program. Don't worry about tracy Flick.

[Anonymous]

So ... her competitive nature pushes her toward a high level of achievement and she gets recognition for it and you are jelly and frustrated? You can either match her energy and effort in an attempt to compete, or let it go.

[Anonymous]

So basically she’s beating you? Sounds like what she has going on is effort, ambition and initiative. I doesn’t seem like she is purposefully undercutting you, lying about you, sabotaging you. If I were a manager, I’d like that her initiative helps our department create good work product and avoid productivity declines during a transitional period.

Not sure what you want DCUM to say. Well, step up or per the second best performer.

[Anonymous]

Meh, I have a coworker like this but choose not to compete. She works 16h days, I work 7.5. She gets more recognition and praise, I don't mind. We get paid the same.

[Anonymous]

If you have comparative weaknesses, they’d be there regardless of her. You’re feeling insecure. Trust your worth and work your own path. Realize it’s not about her and the best you can do in life is wish others well and help them succeed. Life is too short to engage in petty rivalry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d say she and I are probably the star performers on our team. We have different strengths but I notice that she is ambitious and competent although very very competitive.

I was feeling pretty good about my career progress until I discovered that she is several steps ahead of me in getting noticed and developing influence. Our team recently started using Asana and while we were all figuring it out and learning to use it, she jumps in and decides to be the Asana expert. Now she is creating templates and boards for everyone. And our boss is eating it up.

I’m so annoyed!! I don’t want to use her templates as I make great templates on my own!

Sounds like you're equally if not more competitive as she is.
Read your post again -- you're just as ambitious and just as competitive.

[Anonymous]

Work harder and do something exceptional to make yourself stand out. Don’t let someone else’s drive and success keep you from developing your own. This is not an either/or situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d say she and I are probably the star performers on our team. We have different strengths but I notice that she is ambitious and competent although very very competitive.

I was feeling pretty good about my career progress until I discovered that she is several steps ahead of me in getting noticed and developing influence. Our team recently started using Asana and while we were all figuring it out and learning to use it, she jumps in and decides to be the Asana expert. Now she is creating templates and boards for everyone. And our boss is eating it up.

I’m so annoyed!! I don’t want to use her templates as I make great templates on my own!

Sounds like you're equally if not more competitive as she is.
Read your post again -- you're just as ambitious and just as competitive.

Op here. Yes I am ambitious and competitive so that is why I am annoyed. I want to win, too! And I am annoyed she is beating me at it.

I am asking for ways in which, I can shine too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Work harder and do something exceptional to make yourself stand out. Don’t let someone else’s drive and success keep you from developing your own. This is not an either/or situation.

Op here. I have a lot of projects I am working on, so my brain capital is spend trying to do the best job I can in those. She seems to not have much actual work so she keeps creating work for herself and doing work that others don’t have time to do as they’re busy. She is also in my bosses ear and has become her second in command as she probably has much more free time to do extra stuff that I don’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d say she and I are probably the star performers on our team. We have different strengths but I notice that she is ambitious and competent although very very competitive.

I was feeling pretty good about my career progress until I discovered that she is several steps ahead of me in getting noticed and developing influence. Our team recently started using Asana and while we were all figuring it out and learning to use it, she jumps in and decides to be the Asana expert. Now she is creating templates and boards for everyone. And our boss is eating it up.

I’m so annoyed!! I don’t want to use her templates as I make great templates on my own!

Sounds like you're equally if not more competitive as she is.
Read your post again -- you're just as ambitious and just as competitive.

Op here. Yes I am ambitious and competitive so that is why I am annoyed. I want to win, too! And I am annoyed she is beating me at it.

I am asking for ways in which, I can shine too!

Maybe, more, commas!

[Anonymous]

She’s going places whether you like it or not. Your best bet is to make friends with her and hope she takes you along.

[Anonymous]

Are you both the same age? I have a "bright eyed and bushy tailed' coworker at my place of employment -- but he is younger and more junior than I am, and also has a wife who seems to do it all on the home front. So in our case, he is always volunteering to do the travel, etc. because he's seeking recognition and to be perceived as a go-getter. I meanwhile am counting down to retirement so I'm like "Fine, George, you get on the flight and get COVID and let me know how it works out for you." I'm feeling ok about the job security and can't see much upside to competing with him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She’s going places whether you like it or not. Your best bet is to make friends with her and hope she takes you along.

Wise advice

[Anonymous]

Instead of competing with her, collaborate. I did this and we ended up having a blast working together. And we both got recognition!