Jealousy and envy can be nasty feelings, but manage them the right way, and you can actually use these feelings to your advantage, or even to further your career. Next time you feel envious of someone, move past it and learn something in the process by asking that person for advice.
Photo by HighwaysEngland.
Over at The Muse, writer Lily Herman suggests:
Instead of looking at a successful co-worker as an adversary, look to him or her as a very available mentor who you can hit up for advice. Asking for pointers accomplishes two things: You learn some of the tips and tricks that are pushing your colleague ahead — and you give this person a nice little ego boost that will probably make him or her like you more. So, for example, instead of getting jealous when your co-worker’s praised for his impeccable presentation skills yet again, walk on over to his desk and ask for a few pointers for how you can do the same. All of a sudden you’ve gone from enemies to collaborators.
This is an excellent tip because it serves both a practical purpose and an emotional one. You learn to reframe negative feelings into something positive, plus you expand your network and may even learn a few solid career tips in the process.
For more advice on managing jealousy, head to Herman’s full article at the link below.
You Can Be Jealous When a Co-worker Succeeds — or You Can Be Smart and Do This [The Muse]
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