WHEN YOU GET CUT DOWN FOR STANDING OUT: DISCUSSION ON THE TALL POPPY SYNDROME AND ITS IMPACT ON WORKING WOMEN

What is “Tall Poppy Syndrome (TPS)” and its origin

A term referring to flowers that grow higher than others and are cut down to size so that they are the same height as the flowers around them. (Billan, 2023)

This refers to a social phenomenon where people of high status, success, or wealth are criticized, resented, or cut down by those around them. The metaphorical "tall poppy" represents an individual who stands out from the crowd due to their achievements or elevated position.

This also reflects the thinking of some cultures that people who stand out from others due to many reasons need to be disliked or to be undermined like the tall poppies needs to be cut down to other poppy levels. This cutting down may reflect in ways such as gossip, envy or actively trying to bring down them.

"TPS" is a term that originated in Australia and New Zealand. When first identifying this phenomenon, it was widely spread in Australia where they believe all people need to have a fair go and, they see ambitiousness as a negative trait. But in countries like USA where individualism is highly valued, this TPS is rarely seen. However, this phenomenon is not limited to Australia and New Zealand; similar attitudes can be found in other societies as well.

In the current world as many women are equally qualified and working with men in similar roles- there are high tendencies of working women facing this “TPS” in their working places if they are highly ambitious and successful. From the hiring process to the end of their last day in work the barriers women face can be related to TPS they face due to gender biasness/discrimination. Women who are successful are being bullied and belittled, challenged on their successes, and made to feel as though it’s not their place to take up so much space. (Billan, 2023). This blog will discuss about all important aspects of this TPS to working women.

Watch the video to understand the concept further.

Research done on TPS for women

1.    As per research conducted by “Women of Influence”-web community It was identified that 86.8% of participants across 103 countries to this survey has faced hostility or been penalized due to their success/achievements.

2.    It is more likely, that men undermine women for their success.

3.    Half of respondents experienced tall poppy outside work stated friends were to blame.

4.    75% of respondents agreed that being tall poppies impacted their productivity.

5.    60.5% believed that they will be penalized at work if they are too passionate and ambitious.

6.    Also, it was identified that many women didn’t know their experience has a name as “Tall Poppy Syndrome”.

7.    For more details please read- https://www.womenofinfluence.ca/tps/ report.

Top Drivers of “Tall Poppy Syndrome"

Envy- The desire for something that another person has like a skill, achievement, possession, or an accomplishment. Also, this can be the painful awareness of something you do not have. In society showing someone’s envy is shameful and will be indirectly expressed as criticism and sabotage.

Low self-esteem/lack of confidence- An inferiority complex where a person believes that they are not capable of achieving what the other person has achieved. They will not identify their own self-esteem issues but will direct them towards to others to devalue them.

Resentment- A unpleasant emotional response to mistreatment is known as resentment. Resentment can stem from a variety of things, but in most situations, it stems from a perception that someone else has treated you poorly or harmed you. It's common to feel disappointed and frustrated in life.

Lack of awareness- The state of not knowing the full stories of successful women and judge them for the current status only. Not knowing their hard work and dedication can lead others to misinterpret their success.

Cultural expectations- Cultural norms and expectations regarding gender roles vary widely. In some cultures, there may be strong expectations for women to prioritize family over career success. When women deviate from these expectations, they may face criticism.

Gender stereotypes- Deep-rooted gender stereotypes can influence perceptions of women in the workplace. Traditional views about women's roles as caregivers or nurturers may clash with expectations of success and ambition.

Competitiveness- Highly competitive work environments may amplify tall poppy syndrome. In settings where individuals feel the need to compete for limited opportunities, there may be a tendency to criticize those who stand out, regardless of gender.

Ways of women facing “TPS” in workplaces

There are many ways of women being attached in workplaces due to their success and ambitiousness. Following are the main ways.

• Bullying
• Dismissal of achievement
• Downplaying achievement
• Betitling
• Being left-out/ignored
• Undermining
• Being silenced
• Others take credit for your work.
• Accusations of acting selfish and superior
• Microaggression- indirect, subtle, or unintentional discrimination
• Disparaging comments-comments of not valuing a person like gossips

Who will penalize women for being a tall poppy?

According to the research done by “Women in Influence” it was identified this tall poppy syndrome happened from all levels of organization including external stakeholders as well.

Impact of “TPS” on women

“TPS” can have several negative effects on women in the workplace. They can be listed down as follows;

1.    Decreased confidence levels- Constant criticism or resentment due to success can undermine a woman's confidence in her abilities and achievements.

2.    Increased stress-Dealing with criticism and negativity can lead to increased stress and burnout, affecting both mental and physical well-being.

3.    Reduced job satisfaction- Facing negativity and resistance can contribute to lower job satisfaction, making the workplace a less enjoyable environment.

4.    Isolation and Alienation- Women may feel isolated or alienated from their colleagues, making it challenging to build positive relationships within the workplace.

5.    Limited career advancement- Due to the fear of facing negativity women may not want to pursue higher level jobs/promotions.

6.    Impact on mental health- The continuous pressure and negativity can create issues like anxiety and depression.

7.    Fear of Success- Women may develop a fear of success, as they anticipate negative reactions and attempt to downplay their achievements to avoid criticism.

8.    Strained Workplace Relationships- Interactions with colleagues may become strained, leading to a lack of collaboration and a more challenging work environment.

Importance of identifying TPS within an organization and implementing remedies

As per the research done it was identified that 75% of women experienced decrease of their productivity due to the cut-downs they had to face. Also, in the same research it was identified that 50% women left their previous jobs due to these TPS effects. Therefore, it is important for organizations to implement remedies for TPS to keep high talented women within the company as well as to achieve maximum productivity through them.

Following are the remedies can be implemented from an organization:

Starting with improving awareness- This is the step of listening to your women employees when they come-up with this kind of a cut-down experience. Also, this situation needs to be communicated to other workers and need to talk about how these kinds of situations are unacceptable in your company as well as how it affects the culture of the organization.

Transparency in standards- Standards need to be set for salaries, opportunities and promotions and everyone must have the chance to see and understand those standards. Transparency will improve the visibility of real hard work associated with promotions/successions.

Hold people accountable- When a situation occurs relevant to TPS you need to the relevant people need to be held accountable. Then we need to take action for the situation happened and this will give the message to others as well.

Zero tolerance- The company need to lay a standard of not tolerating any of the TPS situations in the company against women and any other member.

Make a practice of celebrating wins- organizations need to celebrate all wins of successions of all employees without a change. This will provide more employee attachment towards the organization and their team.

Invest in training- Conduct training programs on unconscious bias to raise awareness among employees and leaders. Also, offer training programs on emotional intelligence to help employees understand and manage their emotions, fostering a more empathetic and supportive environment.

Conclusion

Tall Poppy Syndrome can be identified as an issue impact the working women in current working context as the number of highly qualified and experienced women increasing. If not taken corrective action a company may face negative impacts like decreased productivity, high women turnover etc… Therefore, it is important to identify the situations and implement corrective action. By doing so, we not only empower working women but also contribute to the creation of environments where success is celebrated, and everyone can thrive.

Madusha Perera

2023

References-

Billan, R., 2023. The Tallest Poppy, s.l.: Women of Influence.

Bomer, K., 2022. Kenny Bomer. [Online]
Available at: https://www.kennybomer.com/post/tall-poppy-syndrome-the-act-of-cutting-people-down
[Accessed 01 December 2023].

Garland, D., 2023. Fit for Joy. [Online]
Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brk4v0bxf6M
[Accessed 03 December 2023].

Influence, W. o., 2023. Women of Influence. [Online]
Available at: https://www.womenofinfluence.ca/tps/
[Accessed 01 December 2023].

Institute, N., 2023. Newport Institute. [Online]
Available at: https://www.newportinstitute.com/resources/mental-health/tall-poppy-syndrome/
[Accessed 01 December 2023].