I am about to say something so strange and so foreign that I am sure, at first consideration, it will seem both impossible and improbable. Here goes: It is possible to actually work with your competition for the betterment of your business. There, I’ve said it. But wait, hear me out.

Since the Industrial Revolution, business-owners have been somehow duped into thinking that competition is the major factor in keeping companies lean, mean, fighting machines. If you would like to limit your market-share and stunt your growth, then buy into that and move on. However, if you are more interested in forming interesting business relationships and expanding your market share, (not to mention boosting revenues) then read on.

Here are six solid reasons to embrace and seek-out friendly competition:

1. Focus on your own business. Over the years, some sort of obsession with the competition develops. So much so that you might be tempted to neglect your own business or fall prey to the ‘copy cat’ syndrome – mimicking the competition even if what they are doing does not work for you. If you are friendly with your competitors, you are less likely to view them in a threatening manner – and less likely to make careless imitations.

2. Spark creativity. When you don’t view the competition in a threatening manner, you experience less stress. When you are more relaxed, you are more apt to be inventive and develop creative, innovative promotional tactics.

3. Increase revenues. Look for areas in which you specialize but your competition does not. Set up affiliate programs for those areas and invite your competition to become an affiliate. They will make money on the sale, widen their offerings and you make money and get exposed to more clients. Everyone wins.

4. Two small businesses = one big business. Combining forces with the competition will create a larger company with more manpower and services. Simply put together you will wield more power and realize better gains. Use the increased breadth to develop new products and markets. This also increases the likelihood of winning bids on government and corporate contracts.

5. Prepare for the future. Given the increasing interconnectedness of our society, coopetition is a business trend whose time has come. Be an early adopter and reap the benefits.

6. Don’t just survive – thrive. While you are focusing on eking a living from your business, why not combine forces to increase profit margins and share the workload. It’s much better to work smart, not hard.

As you can see, the competition is not always the enemy. Sometimes a little cooperation with the competition can lead to business gains you only dreamed possible. Remember, business is a game. When you start to see it that way, you can see and reap the benefits of cooperative opportunities. -as long as you remember to play nice!