Workplace rivalries, and how to manage them

Since the New Testament was committed to scrolls it’s been common knowledge that you can’t serve two masters at the same time. Jesus may have been talking about the conflicting demands of God and Mammon but, in 2022, his wisdom remains true when it comes to managing human beings. 

One only has to look at the disarray in 10 Downing Street to see how grudges and vendettas can damage the reputation of any institution. A flurry of resignations may make it feel as if the worst has blown over, but those who stay working in a regime of constant power struggles, it may be impossible for teams to realise their potential and ruin their careers. 

But it is not simply individual managers who are to blame, argues executive coach Moyra Mackie, who has helped the likes of UBS, Lloyds and Accenture to navigate change: “Unresolved rivalries at work are a sign that something is wrong in the organisation itself – it’s a symptom, not a cause,” she explains. “Bosses who openly dislike each other are part of an unhealthy workplace culture with ineffective leadership.”