In the workplace there can be people who dislike you, who are out to get you, who would rather see you fail. There is nothing special about generosity to an adversary, it is just harder. We are angry with the adversary. We don't want to help her, we want to protect ourselves from her, even do her harm. Our mind is filled with cutting remarks, accusations, and lists of faults and failings. . . .
If you are willing to try being generous towards your adversary, here are some suggestions that might help.
First, you can offer your adversary (and yourself) the gift of trying not to make things any worse. . . . It means honoring what is right and admirable in yourself.
Next you can practice "standing sideways." In the days of duels with pistols, the antagonists stood sideways as they raised and aimed their pistols to present as little a target as possible. When you contribute to your adversary's ability to hurt you by acting in ways that present a broad target, you are not only hurting yourself but also allowing your adversary to bring out the worst in herself. No adversary is wholly bad. There are redeeming qualities in everyone. One way to bring them out is to model them for your adversary. Act your best, and your adversaries will have a harder time acting their worst.
As a final suggestion, practice Seeing and Hearing with the Heart, taking extra care to remain in the heart even when all your alarm bells tell you that you are being disrespected, attacked, or challenged. In actual conversation, this often boils down to a kind of openhearted silence or minimal response, not taking the bait. This benefits you, and it serves as a gift to your adversary.
— Lewis Richmond in Work as a Spiritual Practice