Commentary: The Envious

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Bobby L. Hughes Jr.
  • 19th Operations Group
The Envious spend so much time worrying about what everyone else is getting that they often miss the opportunities they themselves have to be recognized. Opportunities to excel come up every day, yet the envious often misses them, then they wallow around in self-pity because everyone else is getting recognized except them. There are two main problems with this:

One, they are not out for the team they are out for themselves. Every team will have their star player(s). This does not make the rest of the team any less important. As long as everyone remembers we are in this together the team will do well. Once someone puts their personal needs or desires ahead of the team, the team will function less efficiently and risks breaking down.

Two, they don't do things because they enjoy doing them or because they need to be done, they only do things that will get them recognized so they can fill their need for attention. Folks when we do things for others there is a large amount of satisfaction that comes along with it. Most of the time this can and will fill our human need for attention. Needing attention is natural and ok. How you go about filling this need is up to you.

As a high performance team we do not have time for the envious. We trust our leaders are fair and that they will ensure each of us get our rewards. We all succeed or fail together. We must see a win for one of our teammates as a win for all of us.