08/23/2024

When Resentment Is Building on Your Team

In today's workplace, feelings are nearly as important as facts

Subtle digs, snarky asides and petty nitpicking — at first, you might have brushed off your team’s behavior as banter or harmless sarcasm. But as tensions mount, it’s clear that there’s a deeper issue at play: Resentment is simmering. How should you address it with your team? How can you counteract the negative vibes? And what are some ways to create a supportive, healthier dynamic?

What the Experts Say

Employee discontent is on the rise: more workers today are thinking about quitting their jobs than during the Great Resignation in 2022, according to a June PwC report. And since the current job market is not as favorable as it was then, particularly for knowledge workers, many people feel “frustrated and trapped,” according to Anthony Klotz, associate professor of organizational behavior at UCL School of Management.

This breeds resentment which can lead people to "act like jerks," said Klotz, noting that they’re more likely to, for instance, "commit small acts of incivility or rudeness," like excluding colleagues from group emails or interrupting others during meetings.

Please select this link to read the complete article from Harvard Business Review.