Envy and jealousy at work are among the most difficult things to deal with in the workplace. But no matter how hard it is to overcome them, you have to manage these feelings effectively to prevent them from ruining your own performance at work, and your relationships with the people you work with.
There are many things or situations that can make you feel jealous in your workplace, including:
- The ideas of another employee are used instead of yours
- A colleague of yours always gets the credit
- Another employee gets the promotion you think you deserve more
- Someone younger than you gets a raise
- Nothing seems to be difficult for a particular colleague
- Your boss obviously favors one employee over everyone else
Those are just some of the many reasons one may feel jealousy in the workplace. In fact, even those who seem so confident with themselves may feel jealous or envious of a colleague from time to time.
It is important that you not allow jealousy to affect you in a negative way, nor you should let your negative emotion take control over your actions and attitude towards other people. You need to be professional at all times. You should avoid losing your confidence and self-assuredness just because your negative emotion is taking over you.
If you feel like you are starting to feel envious of a co-worker, do the following tricks to keep that negative emotion away:
Get over the fact that they have what you don’t have
This is easier said than done, of course, but it doesn’t mean you can’t do it. As a strong and confident individual, you have everything that it takes to move on and focus on being the best that you can be. The last thing you want to do is make your career and life about what other people are doing. Get over what you are jealous of and move on with your life.
Stop yourself from making comparisons
It is very important that you keep your focus on your own life and career. All your successes and achievements have nothing to do with what others are and are not doing. If you keep on gauging your happiness and measuring your success by making a comparison between what you’ve achieved and what others have achieved, you will always end up feeling short and disappointed.
Choose to be happy for others
When a coworker or a fellow team member receives an award, especially a promotion, you have to choose to be supportive and happy for them. It will take a lot of effort on your part to do this, but when you do, you will feel huge relief because you don’t have to worry about not getting what they have.
Redirect your emotion
When you start feeling envious or jealous of your coworkers, be more aware of your emotions and redirect it to more positive actions. Instead of feeling desperate about it, use it as an inspiration to work harder or to become a better individual. You may even consult a personal coach if your envy or jealousy is becoming too much to handle, so you can get help in dealing with it.
Cecile Peterkin is a certified career and retirement coach, and a registered member of the Career Professionals of Canada and the International Coach Federation. She is also the Founder and Senior Career Strategist at Cosmic Coaching Centre, provider of career and life management services for middle managers and mid-career professionals across Canada, United States and Europe.