What to Do When a Promotion Is Threatening a Work Friendship

February 11, 2019

What to Do When a Promotion Is Threatening a Work Friendship

Having friends at work is good for your engagement and productivity. But what do you do when you’re up for a promotion that a work friend also wants? First, step back and get some perspective. Remind yourself that this is just one of many promotions that will come up in your career. Second, remember that the friendship is probably more important than who has what job. Talk to your friend about the situation, and defuse any tension that exists. Be clear that you don’t want to let the promotion affect the relationship. Finally, keep your feelings of self-worth in check. Promotions can be arbitrary and subjective; the decision isn’t always about who is better for the job, and it may even come down to factors outside your control. Think about how you’d like to react if the promotion doesn’t go your way — that way you’ll be ready for whatever happens next.

Adapted from “When You and Your Friend Both Want the Same Promotion," by Emma Seppälä and Christina Bradley