fbpx

Tall Poppy Syndrome

Tall Poppy Syndrome

Cutting down the tall poppy

The tall poppy syndrome is a cultural phenomenon in which people hold back, criticise or sabotage those who have or are believed to have achieved success in one or more aspects of life, particularly intellectual or cultural wealth.

Whether you speak up in a meeting to contribute your ideas and get blank stares, or get constantly overlooked for a promotion.

I think every diverse woman leading and winning would have experienced this on more than one occasion in the workplace.

That familiar old chestnut, your colleague Bill says exactly the same thing the following week and it’s a brilliant idea, everyone loves it 🙄

He is also given all the stretch projects and gets the promotion 🙄🙄

The tendency to discredit or disparage those who are different from Bill and don’t conform to the cardboard cut out model of a leader and are probably much smarter, and far more experienced but for some reason keep getting overlooked 🙄🙄🙄

Are people trying to dim your light?

Ignoring the achievements or prominence of specific groups is a tactic which will create a constant, polluted stream of negativity across an organisation.

Any organisation, trying to build a growth culture, must outline a pathway to put a STOP to these kind of antics immediately.

We need organisation to stand up and create a nurturing environment that cultivates different strengths and we need people inside the organisations, who do not allow fear to keep them silent!

The opinions of others, especially managers and leaders can determine your destiny in the workplace and what you hear, or see all the time, will effect the way you think.

‘Quite frankly for most of us, it is not a lack of effort. We work twice as hard, for half the pay!’

Diverse women don’t bend

These dynamics keep you stuck in roles where you don’t have capacity to operate in your boldness and quite frankly will suck all your confidence.

‘We must continue to fight against anyone that tries to bend you down or ridicule you!’

They are broken, not you! And, these behaviours come from a place of deep hurt, pain, neglect and unworthiness that are being projected.

Every time you work to perfection, or take up the the role of superwoman or allow imposter syndrome to silence you. We miss the opportunity to be seen in the capacity we want to be, or to get leaders excited and willing to help us, make a lasting impact.

It is the inner most conversation you have with yourself, about yourself that defines you, limits you and creates blockages. And, it’s important to silence the voices that resonate against us.

You can’t wish them away or ignore them

If you are struggling with identity and need support to understand how to overcome and silence these voices.

I would love to help you to become unstoppable. My 6 week bootcamp accelerator is NOW OPEN for the next cohort.

“Just to give you some feedback on my progress after our accelerator course.

I have been asked by STEM to feature in their PR campaign for their 20th Anniversary. So to feature in national papers and magazines, I’m also being interviewed at my place of work by a film crew..

Just wow!!!! My time is here…”

Learn more about the accelerator programme. Sign up for a free 30 mins discovery session TODAY!