Meet Monica, a 32-year-old Wellbeing Manager from Sydney, Australia. Monica was once a rising star at her company until a new colleague, Rachel, was hired. Despite initially being excited to have a new team member, Monica quickly became envious of Rachel's talent and success. Her jealousy ultimately led her to take actions that resulted in Rachel being fired. In this interview, Monica shares her story and the lessons she learned about jealousy and workplace relationships.
Interviewer: Can you tell us about your experience with your former colleague Rachel?
Monica: Sure. Rachel was a new hire at our company, and from the moment she arrived, I could tell she was talented. She had a way of connecting with clients and coming up with innovative ideas that I just couldn't match. At first, I was excited to have her on the team, but as time went on, my envy started to get the best of me.
Interviewer: How did your jealousy manifest itself?
Monica: Well, it all started when my colleague got the promotion that I wanted. I was so jealous of her, and I just couldn't stand the thought of her doing better than me. I started to become very critical of Rachel's work and would find ways to undermine her in meetings. I would also badmouth her to other colleagues and even went so far as to steal her ideas and present them as my own. I started spreading rumours about her around the office, saying that she wasn't doing her job properly and that she was slacking off. I even went to our boss and told him that she was making mistakes all the time.
Interviewer: And what happened then?
Monica: Unfortunately, my actions led to her being fired. I felt terrible about it afterwards, but I just couldn't help myself at the time. I was so consumed by my jealousy and my desire to get ahead that I lost sight of what was right.
One day, I overheard Rachel talking to a client about a project we were working on. She mentioned a detail that I thought was confidential, so I reported her to our boss. It turns out that I had misunderstood the situation, and the detail was not confidential at all. But by then, it was too late. Rachel had already been fired.
Interviewer: How did you feel after Rachel was let go?
Monica: I was relieved at first, but then I started to feel guilty. I knew that I had played a role in her dismissal, and that weighed heavily on me.
"Honestly, at the time, I was so caught up in my own jealousy that I didn't even consider how my actions were affecting her. Looking back, I feel terrible about what I did."
Interviewer: Did you ever think about the impact of your actions on Rachel?
Monica: Honestly, at the time, I was so caught up in my own jealousy that I didn't even consider how my actions were affecting her. Looking back, I feel terrible about what I did.
Interviewer: What have you learned from this experience?
Monica: I've learned that jealousy can be a destructive force, both in the workplace and in life in general. I've also learned that it's important to build supportive relationships with colleagues instead of tearing them down out of envy.
Interviewer: What would you say to someone who is struggling with jealousy in the workplace?
Monica: I would say that it's important to acknowledge those feelings and try to understand where they're coming from. It's also important to focus on your own work and to build positive relationships with your colleagues. And if you're really struggling, don't be afraid to seek help from a therapist or counsellor.
Interviewer: What did you learn from this experience?
Monica: I learned that jealousy can be a very dangerous thing, and that it's important to control your emotions and your actions. I also learned that it's better to focus on your own strengths and work hard to improve yourself, rather than trying to tear others down.
Interviewer: That's a valuable lesson. Have you tried to make amends with your former colleague?
Monica: Yes, I have. I reached out to her and apologised for my behavior, and I offered to help her find a new job. She was understandably upset with me at first, but she eventually forgave me. We're not friends, but at least we can be civil with each other.
Interviewer: That's good to hear. Thank you for sharing your story with us, Monica.
Monica: Thank you for having me.
* Names and photos have been changed to protect the interviewees anonymity where requested.