A workplace where different people with different jobs, functions and salaries share time and effort is the perfect setting for unhealthy competitiveness, jealousy or even envy to appear. Without going to the extreme of workplace bullying, we focus on the dangers of workplace jealousy and how to control envy at work.
What is job jealousy?
But what is job jealousy? As in relationships and friendships, jealousy arises from our own insecurities. But in the case of work, different treatment helps a lot, recognition that another person considers unfair, a promotion that you expected for yourself and the other takes it.
We cannot forget about all those toxic behaviors at work based on rumors, gossip or criticism among colleagues. The more or less ethical trips that put each other in the race to ingratiate themselves with the boss and taking merits that do not belong to one, thus hiding the effectiveness and effort of others.
You know you have job jealousy if you look at your coworker askance. If you think that he is receiving employment benefits that do not correspond to him. Or maybe he does deserve them, but why don’t you have them? Envy also appears there, which, together with jealousy, creates a cocktail of labor malaise that affects the entire team.
How to control envy at work?
Whether the jealousy is unfounded or not, the truth is that to get to work every day and find yourself in a good work environment, you have to learn to control envy at work. You know how to do it?
- Try not to compare yourself to others. It’s hard, of course, but there’s nothing to lose by trying. If your coworker gets a congratulations from the boss, it may be deserved. As deserved as it is undeserved is that recognition of your work that does not finish arriving. But that’s not your partner’s fault, right?
- Avoid huddles at coffee time to criticize the new employee who has entered the workforce with force. Don’t listen to the rumors about why that other partner has been underperforming for a while. Do not contribute to the fact that the work environment is one of unhealthy competitiveness.
- Congratulate that person who has achieved the promotion. If you are jealous or envy, you are not going to do it from the heart, but you do not need to point out this intimate aspect.
- Have jealousy and envy given way to rage? Situations that seem unfair to you can lead you to anger that is not convenient for you to show at work. So take a few deep breaths, focus on your breathing to drive away the thoughts that are invading you, and get back to your task.
Turn jealousy into something positive
Your homework. This is important because it’s the only way you can turn jealousy into a positive attitude. Once you eliminate envy, jealousy itself can magically become a stimulus, a motivation for you to work harder.
We are not talking about working overtime to get the attention of your bosses. We are talking about concentrating on your work, doing it to the best of your ability, thinking only of yourself and not of what your colleagues are doing or not doing. It is true that you will have to see many injustices in your work, but try not to let that affect your performance.
Just as we talk about unhealthy competitiveness, we can do it about healthy competitiveness. This is what all companies look for, sometimes at the cost of the emotional and physical well-being of the worker, but a competitive environment favors productivity. And yes, it’s up to you to establish the limits of that competitiveness so that your work does not flood all areas of your life.