Managing a Jealous Boss Comes Down to 4 things

At work, comparisons are everywhere: Jealousy of a colleague’s successes, or work schedule, or relationships with leadership. But what if your boss is jealous of you? 

Writing in The Harvard Business Review, Ruchi Sinha, PhD, Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior at the University of South Australia, says, “You may need to manage their emotions to manage your career.”

 Here are 4 ways to manage your boss's emotions: 

• Understand the psychology: Your boss is human and if you are outshining them they may feel threatened. It is up to them to manage their feelings, but check to ensure you are not doing anything to inflame the situation.
• Manage their reactions with humility: Inevitably, when we succeed, we credit our own drive, skills, and abilities. Although that might be true, we need to acknowledge “the exceptional circumstances and fortunate opportunities we may have received along the way.”
• Use your success to empower your manager and peers: When prospering, you may become more self focused. But it’s crucial to pause and find ways to use your influence to help others around you to succeed.
• Proactively diffuse the power struggles: If your manager feels threatened, they may assert their power and influence during public meetings and in front of stakeholders. Do NOT reciprocate in the struggle for power and status. Instead, validate your boss by acknowledging their expertise and authority. Remind them that you value their support.

Have you experienced a jealous manager, and how did you handle them? To join the conversation, click on  "comments" below.  We would really like to hear about your experiences!

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