Workplace Envy

"Jealousy is the result of one's lack of self-confidence, self-worth, and self-acceptance." ~ Sasha Azevedo

"Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die." ~ Carrie Fisher

"Envy is the most stupid of vices, for there is no single advantage to be gained from it." ~ Honore de Balzac

"Hatred is active, and envy passive dislike; there is but one step from envy to hate." ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

You, the striver, have to realize that envy is a snake in the grass-the more your career position or status to others, the higher the envy tax, as Thoreau perspicaciously put it. While any overt display of power is discouraged by social convention, especially in democracies, faking to be less successful than you are only plays into the hands of the envious. They see your wariness as a silent admission of the fact that they can hurt you, which reinforces their perception of your career.

The workplace, where cutthroat competition often hides itself under a veneer of equality, can be a genuine breeding ground for envy. Colleagues, bound as they are by perceived parity, can be especially vulnerable to its corrosive influence. The envious, in these kinds of environments, will not hesitate to adopt the most insidious of tactics, those subtle, often undetectable underminings of effort. They are masters of the backstab, whispering doubts, spreading rumors, and sabotaging behind closed doors.

To which you must cultivate a healthy, loud indifference. Far from withering under the heat of their hatred, be confident in your triumphs before them with modesty. Your best revenge is to take the high road, rise above their petty plot or conspiracy, embracing your power; this is the ultimate revenge, freedom from their corrosive influence, while they are trapped in own hatred prison, consumed by resentment.

It is the element of envy that poisons individuals and organisations. In businesses and organisations, envy reveals itself through sabotage, gossip, and even withholding essential information. Perhaps an unsatisfied colleague makes undermining comments on the success of other colleagues by dispersing false rumours regarding their ability to handle responsibilities or actually subtly sabotages his or her performance. He or she thus hurts the person but finally the progress of the organization as a general unit.

National envy can feed international conflicts, too. An envy-inspiring power might imperil others' economic or military supremacy, beget resentment and retaliation through protectionist trade wars, or lead to a reliance on arms. Established powers, upon perceiving the growth of an envy-inspiring power, may resort to destabilizing action that would spark a cycle of distrust and hostility as we can see in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Besides, envy has very deep effects or dark shadows on the psychology of a person. Envy develops feelings of inability, bitterness, and resentment, hindering personal growth and happiness in its entirety. Individuals wrapped up in envy might find themselves constantly comparing with others, focusing on their perceived shortcomings rather than their strengths and achievements. This perpetual pursuit of perfection based on other people's standards could leave them perpetually dissatisfied and incomplete.

The leaders should facilitate a culture of gratitude and mutually supportive behavior to inspire the opposite of envy in organizations. That would involve an enabling environment whereby the individual and group performances are valued and celebrated within a collaborative working environment that can be facilitated through open communication and sharing. This helps the employees feel valued and respected. Leaders can also model it by showing appreciation for the contribution of their team, by operating with a growth mindset that perceives others' successes as opportunities for learning and inspiration.