The Tall Poppy Syndrome
Recently I was coaching a leader in her industry who informed me about "The Tall Poppy Syndrome" in her country of Australia. Curious, I asked her to explain.
Apparently, if you look too good in Australia, that might get too much attention and because of jealousy or just plain old nastiness, someone will "cut off the heads of the poppy plants". This means that they will do everything they can to drag you down, make you look bad and bully you.
I was told that this is why students in Australia school is about fun, not achievement. You can't do too well or you will be 'cut down'.
I learned that if you stand out as an Executive, you too will be chopped down.
Because of this syndrome, many women in Australia don't believe in themselves. They don't have confidence. They shrug off high standards and go for mediocre performance.
According to Wikipedia: The tall poppy syndrome describes aspects of a culture where people of high status are resented, attacked, cut down or criticised because they have been classified as superior to their peers.
I am not sure why I was shocked because many men and women I know, including myself, have had our heads cut off for various reasons. Maybe we didn't get the promotion or raise we knew we deserved or our brilliant ideas were shut down when they could have greatly improved the performance factors within an organization. For many, this happened because we made others look bad.
One delightful Sikh gentleman I know suffered from the Tall Poppy Syndrome. He had emigrated from India to Canada. In India he owned a very successful business; however, when he moved to Canada he accepted a position within the Canadian government. With his strong leadership and management skills, he was able to prove his worth within his government position, at least to all except the people to whom he reported. Over the years this turban-wearing and very spiritual man (he spent 4 hours a day in deep prayer and meditation), applied for numerous higher positions. He was denied every single one even though he was qualified and/or overqualified for all of them. Eventually, he knew that he was being discriminated against and took the government to court. Ten years later he won a very big settlement. The emotional expense to his family was enormous. The good news is that because of his courage, he set a legal precedent and paved the way for others to receive promotions for which they were worthy.
In the Women's Movement, celebrity lawyer Gloria Allred staunchly defends women who have been cut down. And women who have been forced to do appalling things in order to keep their jobs or get ahead in their given industry. Ms Allred tells her own story of a medical doctor who invited her out for dinner. When he picked her up she agreed to go to the hospital with him so that he could see some urgent patients. Then he mentioned that he had received a call from a patient who was in a hotel and needed urgent care. Ms Allred went along believing that after that call they would finally go out for dinner. When they got to the hotel, he opened a suite door and let her in. When she turned around he was pointing a gun at her head and did some unspeakable things to her.
In the spiritual world, what happened to my Sikh friend and to Gloria Allred, is called 'stealing'. Stealing of one's spirit.
It is time, isn't it? Time to let the poppies flourish in their given fields being nourished by equality, respect, and self-confidence knowing that they are safe.
What a joyful world we will create for our younger folks! Are you with me?
