A recent Japanese study has shown that gratitude is linked to positive envy in the workplace, a feeling that drives employees to benefit from their colleagues' success and strive to develop their skills and improve their performance, rather than feeling resentment or attempting to diminish their achievements.
The scientific journal European Management Journal reported in a study published electronically on October 23 that researchers Kazuho Yamaura from Ritsumeikan University and Yohsuke Otsubo from the University of Tokyo analyzed data from 269 employees in Japanese companies, aiming to understand how positive and hostile envy evolve over time, and the role of gratitude in shaping these two types of feelings.
It was noted that the results showed that positive and hostile envy follow different paths over time, as gratitude was linked to a more positive path for envy, characterized by directing attention toward self-improvement and benefiting from others' success, rather than being preoccupied with negative comparisons with them.
The study added the importance of enhancing feelings of gratitude in the workplace, due to its potential to direct envy feelings toward constructive behaviors that support personal development and professional relationships, while noting that the study showed an association between these factors, not necessarily a direct causal relationship.
The study highlights the importance of positive emotions in the workplace, as the way employees handle their colleagues' success can affect their professional relationships and their view of personal development, making the enhancement of cooperation, gratitude, and knowledge exchange important factors in building a more positive work environment.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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