Dealing with Jealous Coworkers

Jealousy in the workplace is not uncommon. Sometimes it cannot be avoided because we're not all equally gifted, skilled and talented.

If you are the object of your coworkers' jealousy and have been feeling the heat lately, mitigate the situation before it gets worse.

Your behavior

You may not know it but perhaps, whenever you do something praiseworthy, you rub it in their faces. Perhaps you brag about your successes or look smug whenever you receive props for your work. If this is so, you have to take the I'm-so-great attitude down a notch or two. Remember that an office employs a number of people for a reason.

Your image

If you gained a reputation for being a "soloist" you may you have to do some damage control on your image. Be a team player (if you aren't already one) and be the guy who encourages the whole team to do good.

Give credit where credit is due

If you have received even a small amount of help for a job well done, give props to the coworker who helped you. Sharing the spotlight will only do you and the entire office good. You will definitely sense the tide change.

Conspiracy theory

If things are getting a bit more serious and you find yourself being conspired against, it would be best to just withdraw from the situation and from any rumor you might have heard around the office.

Make friends

If things get even worse, it's always a good idea to have allies. Even better that having allies is having chief-of-something-or-other executive allies.

You can't afford to be choosy though, so accept (so to speak) support from a same-level coworker. Friends can help ease the tension and  their presence would mean you are not such a "star" and a one-man act after all.