“Careerists”, “opportunists”, even “egomaniacs”: these are just some of the labels often applied to those who ascend the career ladder in their company, make more money, or build successful businesses.
Ideally, such people would be admired and congratulated for their achievements. And while many are, poor attitudes towards them persist.
The phenomenon in the workplace is known as “tall poppy syndrome” – the tendency to belittle and undercut those who rise above others in the professional sphere, like a large poppy in a field that grows faster than those around it.
In the human realm, these tall poppies are often cut down by gossip, backbiting, or low blows.
First described in 1984 in the book “Tall Poppies” by Australian writer and lecturer Susan Mitchell, the syndrome, sadly, continues to thrive. And to make matters worse, gender plays a large part.
While men can also be subject to tall poppy syndrome, experts agree it mostly affects women. After all, in a work society still rife with sexist clichés, it is easier to criticise women for devoting too much time to their career to the detriment of their family life.
Whereas, for a man, the same behaviour seems more “acceptable” in the collective mindset.
The subject is further complicated by the fact that gendered stereotypes are often perpetuated by women themselves. A 2018 study showed many of those who are most likely to “cut down poppies” are women (31% of cases), more than men (27.6%).
It’s a complex and deeply rooted issue, one that has significant consequences on women’s careers. According to the same research, some women said they have been blacklisted from promotions due to their success, and that such a culture has resulted in them downplaying their achievements or deciding not to apply for promotions.
A significant number of respondents (64.7%) also said they felt a lower sense of self-worth.
While efforts to change the culture need to start within workplaces, it can be useful to familiarise oneself with the mechanisms at play to protect or liberate oneself from the effects of the syndrome.
Books on the topic include the one by Mitchell or “The Tall Poppy Syndrome” by US author Doug Garland, who studied the phenomenon for over a decade.