Feelings that no one wants to showAre you jealous of your colleagues? That's really what's behind it!

It's a feeling that many people encounter in the course of their professional lives: they are jealous of a colleague. However, this emotion is usually not shown openly. There is too much concern that it could be seen as destructive and put a strain on social interaction within the team.

Dealing consciously with envy can definitely have positive effects. “The feeling of envy should under no circumstances be demonized, but rather perceived as a valuable source of information,” says business psychologist Saskia Bülow. Because envy is an indication of unfulfilled needs and desires and can motivate you to work on yourself and move forward.

In order to find out what is behind the envy, those affected should examine themselves. The crucial question is: What exactly triggers the feeling? Is it the other person's salary, recognition or success? And how important are these aspects for your own professional goals? This self-analysis helps to recognize your own wishes more clearly and to address them in a targeted manner.

Sometimes, however, another side of envy emerges: Anyone who notices that he or she does not begrudge the other person's success should investigate the reasons for this. “This is often based on a feeling of inferiority or injustice,” explains Bülow. Anyone who feels inferior can ask themselves how this situation can be changed, for example through further development or new goals.

Anyone who feels that the promotion of a colleague or recognition for a team member is unfair should take action. “Have a constructive conversation with the manager,” advises Bülow. The focus is on your own development: What can I do to move forward? How do I get started on the next project? If you remain inactive, you risk more than just continued frustration. Doing nothing puts a strain on your own psyche and can have a long-term negative impact on the working atmosphere in the team.

Working in an atmosphere of envy is exhausting. But what exactly can be done if resentment puts a strain on everyday work? What helps people whose colleagues want to harm them out of envy? Four steps:

By the way: A study for which various experiments were carried out in the entrepreneurial environment showed that if you disclose your own setbacks or failures in addition to your successes, you can significantly reduce resentful envy. This makes successful people seem more likeable and approachable, which reduces negative reactions and improves relationships with others.

Sources used: awi/dpa