Controlling Professional Jealousy

Professional jealousy, which is feeling envious of your coworkers or competitors, who are better than you is a powerful and destructive emotion. But it's unavoidable and exists in all competitive fields such as business, academia, and the arts.

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It is a toxic behavior that drives people to undermine their peers, engage in unethical behavior, and office politics, and even ruin their careers. However, it's possible to overcome this behavior and turn it into a positive force that motivates you to improve your performance and build healthy relationships in your workplace. In this article, we'll explore some ways for managing professional jealousy and channeling it into productive outcomes.

Acknowledge your jealousy - The first step in managing professional jealousy is to acknowledge that you are feeling envious of someone. It's natural to feel jealous when someone, especially younger than you, is more successful, receives more recognition, or has an easier path to success. Denying or repressing these feelings can make them more intense and difficult to manage. By admitting to yourself that you are feeling jealous, you can start exploring the reasons behind your emotions and take steps to address them.

Challenge your negative thoughts - Jealousy stems from negative thoughts and beliefs about yourselves and your abilities. It's important to challenge these thoughts and replace them with more positive, realistic ones. For example, instead of thinking "I am not as good as my colleague," try reframing it as "We have different strengths and areas of expertise, and I can learn from them." By changing your perspective, you can reduce feelings of jealousy to a great extent and increase your self-confidence.