When Winner-Take-All Battles Backfire at Work

Published On: October 23, 2018

There’s a right and wrong way to hold internal competition for a promotion—here’s how to keep the runners-up from leaving

Wall Street Journal – October 17, 2018

by Sue Shellenbarger

If career planning at your office is starting to resemble an episode of “Survivor,” you’re not alone.

More employers are sparking internal competitions by posting job openings online and encouraging interested employees to apply. The internal horse races that ensue open up new career opportunities for many, but also risk leaving angry, dispirited runners-up in their wake.

Employers tapped current employees to fill 21% of all 2017 job openings, up from 11% the previous year, according to a survey of more than 700 employers by SilkRoad, a Chicago-based talent-management technology company.