Its #WomensHistoryMonth and this study is a great way to kickoff the discussion of work and job satisfaction. What it really comes down to is your extent of excellence.
What is #TallPoppySyndrome?
Glad you’re here to read about it. The study undertaken by the Women of Influence surveyed over 4,000 women across 103 countries to check the following. ‘Tall Poppy Syndrome occurs when people are attacked, resented, disliked, criticized or cut down because of their achievements and/or success.’
Perhaps you’re a man and you’ve seen your female colleagues encounter this. Perhaps you’re a woman stifling the will to quit because a paycheck missed is a loan payment skipped, or your kid’s school tuition delayed. It’s a real problem and I empathize with your situation. Dare I say, I’ve also experienced the Tall Poppy Syndrome and more than ever, feel relieved to have a name to put to what was happening in my career.
Many times, women aren’t aware of their excellence because most companies don’t train you to recognize it nor are the bars set equal for competition. While you burn the midnight oil over a presentation, your peer or colleague makes excuses for incomplete work and rallies pity parties to sail through.
In this episode I invited a friend in the communication field to join in bringing perspective to the subject. Divya Gaikwad works for one of the Big 4 companies and has been around the circuit to know what this subject implies in the long run.
Most women are competing with each other at jobs that don’t require it. Why? A deep rooted sense of jealousy or envy drive such mentalities. Gossiping, snitching, holding up processes and the best one, holding leads or contacts so close, it’s probably choking you! Why are women so catty you wonder?
Honestly, excellence should be defined in clear terms. How else will you know where you rank? Do companies do enough to reward fairness? Are senior leadership and CEOs keeping silent to help move the ship forward and not get grounded?
There are pertinent questions you should first ask yourself when dealing with demanding jobs. Are you excellent at what you do? This should look like punctuality in deadlines, coming in prepared for meetings or projects, being proactive, working collaboratively, and most importantly, standing up for the truth at times when it’s challenged.
If you’re a man reading this post, there’s a lot you can also do for your colleague, your wife, or girlfriend. Instead of picking menial conversations at a meetup, social do, or dinner table, ask how they hold up at work. Offer a listening ear, unbiased advice if you can, and encourage women to be supporters not fighters.
Happy #InternationalWomensDay everyone!
Listen to the episode here:
DIPTI KUMAR 