Healthy competition is motivated by wanting to do well on the task at hand and focuses on both sides having fun and learning skills along the way, Faas writes.
He says an example of positive competition in the office would be two teams working to find the best solution to a problem. "Competitions like this can lead to startling innovation as teams share and learn from each other and lift each other up at the same time," he says.
Unhealthy competition, on the other hand, is motivated by wanting to beat others and the focus is on winning, Faas writes.
An example of negative competition in the office would be two individuals or groups fighting for their boss's approval, he explains. The two sides typically become defensive and stoop to undermining the other side through sabotage, gossip, and innuendo.