IELTS essay - Competitiveness is a positive quality for people in most societies. How does competitiveness affect individuals? Is it a positive or negative trend?

The world is changing very fast; big will not beat small anymore; it will be the fast beating the slow. These words hold true for today’s global village in which we live in a 24/7 society. In the following paragraphs, I shall discuss the effect of competitiveness on individuals. I believe that competitiveness is good, but over-competitiveness in which one uses unethical means to reach the top is bad. 

At the individual level, competitiveness provides incentives for people to improve themselves. People set goals for themselves and try to achieve them by hard work and perseverance. These goals are based on others achievements. They try to break records and put their heart and soul to excel in all fields. This is what keeps them going. Then they become inspiration for others who also work hard for getting name and fame. If there was no competition, people would become lazy and there would be stagnation in their lives. This would result in dull individuals and lackluster societies.

It is this competitiveness which is the basis for the Olympics and other such international and national events. Individual competition translates to national and international level during such events. For example, when Abinav Bindra won the first individual Olympic gold medal in shooting, he not only made a name for himself but also for the whole of India. Therefore, competitiveness leads to the progress of the individuals and societies as a whole.

On the other hand, it is important to realize that trying to be number one and trying to do a task well are two different things. One should not hold the delusion that one’s advancement is accomplished by crushing others. Over-competitiveness, in which a person uses unethical means to win such as taking drugs before any sporting event to increase performance or hurting others to win, is bad.

To put it in a nutshell, I pen down saying that, competitiveness is good and leads to the progress of individuals and societies but only as long as it remains a healthy competition. If unethical means are used or it leads to stress and others are hurt in the process, then it is bad.