The Idea in Brief
Comparing yourself with successful coworkers can be motivating, but it can also trigger envy. The authors’ research suggests that such feelings may cause real damage, both to your own career and to your organization’s success.
Denying or concealing envy makes the problem worse. To help you manage your feelings, the authors offer mental exercises to bring out your most generous self.
By confronting your feelings and replacing negative habits of thinking with more-productive ones, you will become more open to others, more receptive to change, and more fulfilled at work.
As you enter your recently promoted colleague’s office, you notice a photograph of his beautiful family in their new vacation home. He casually adjusts his custom suit and mentions his upcoming board meeting and speech in Davos. On one hand, you want to feel genuinely happy for him and celebrate his successes. On the other, you hope he falls into a crevasse in the Alps.
