Why Your Female Office Colleagues Want to See You Fail

Let’s be real, office politics is sweet gist until you’re the one inside it. If you’ve ever worked in an environment with plenty women, you’ll know this: some of your female colleagues don’t just want to compete with you, they quietly want to see you fail.

Now, before anybody drags me, I’m not saying all women are like that. But many offices in Nigeria (and beyond) are mini battlegrounds where subtle rivalry, jealousy, and silent sabotage are the order of the day.

Here’s the thing: workspaces are not just about skills, they’re about recognition. And women especially notice when another woman is “shining” more than them. That girl that always dresses sharp, delivers projects on time, and gets invited into management meetings? Yeah… she’s a silent threat to the others. Instead of clapping for her, some colleagues will be whispering, “Let’s see how long she can keep it up.”

I’ve seen it firsthand. A friend told me how her teammate “accidentally” deleted her presentation slides the night before a major pitch. Another lady shared how her idea was twisted in a meeting and presented by her own colleague as if she came up with it. The sad part? The person smiling with you at lunch can be the same person lowkey hoping you flop in front of the boss.

Why does this happen? Insecure people hate competition. Some female colleagues don’t want to work harder, they just want everyone to stay on the same level so nobody outshines them. Instead of being inspired by your excellence, they become bitter about it. And trust me, bitterness in the office doesn’t stay quiet for long, it shows in side comments, in group chats, and even in who they choose to “support” when promotions are on the line.

And you know Lagos offices, small small cliques everywhere. One group will form prayer partners (but also gossip partners), another will form aso-ebi crew, while another will always sit with HR like they own the company. If you’re not careful, your growth will step on toes you didn’t even know existed.

But here’s the wisdom: don’t dim your light because people can’t handle it. The worst mistake you can make is to start hiding your gifts just to keep “office peace.” You were not employed to make people comfortable; you were employed to add value. If your colleagues can’t deal with your excellence, that’s their problem, not yours.

At the same time, don’t be naïve. Protect your work, double-check your files, keep evidence of what you’ve done, and learn to speak up for yourself. Some colleagues will try to set you up with gossip, others will try to corner you with fake friendship. Be wise. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 10:16, “Be wise as serpents, but harmless as doves.” That’s the balance, excel without being arrogant, shine without being careless.

The truth is, not everyone in your office wants to see you win. Some are secretly praying for your downfall so they can finally feel like the “star” of the team. But guess what? No matter how many people want you to fail, your consistency and integrity will always speak louder than their jealousy.

So keep rising. Keep delivering. Keep being that woman (or man) who cannot be ignored. At the end of the day, colleagues come and go, but your reputation and your results will always follow you.

Because when God lifts you, no bad female office clique can bring you down.