Break Free from Tall Poppy Culture!

New peer-reviewed research shows 'Tall Poppy Culture' continues to affect the wellbeing of New Zealanders. The cultural phenomena, ascribed particularly to New Zealand and Australia, where those who chase aspiration are brutally criticised ‘cutting down the tall poppy’ ?

At the end of 2021, the debate resurfaced, following the tragic case of a young New Zealand entrepreneur who died by suicide.?It's also been directed at a lot of our women leaders lately and it’s far from nurturing behaviour.

Tall Poppy behaviour promotes self-doubt, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, loss of opportunity, and even leaving one’s country.?It affects the well-being of our nation and by extension, hurts our society and economy.?

When people cut-down others, successful in their personal and professional endeavours they set out for themselves, but those around them see 'greatness', so resent, attack and criticise them for daring to grow beyond their boots.

We see it all the time in the workplace.?It's everywhere no matter how much we try to deny it. This disturbing small-minded way of thinking has set up a culture of people not wanting to stand out too much.

A culture of people not wanting to get anything 'wrong' and worst of all a culture of people squashing their own dreams and desires to remain in the safe status-quo mindset.

The quote 'world famous in NZ’, rather than stretch our wings to fly even further. The big fish in the small pond approach, hampers so many from rising above their true capability in our workplaces.

People are shot down and told to follow the rules, or face the consequences. Ostracised for applying critical thinking in our debilitating mainstream work politics. Shamed for expressing their ideas because they aren't top of the leadership chain and told they'll never be, if not part of the 'tall poppy' culture.

To create a new version of what leadership excellence can achieve for our country, we must start looking outside this debilitating culture. We need to study the attributes highly successful players demonstrate and applaud their transformational value to our society.

? Study what they are doing differently, that is driving their personal success and learn why these high achievers are so incredibly valuable to our society.

? High achieving leaders encourage the rest of us to discover the most authentic version of ourselves by teaching us how to feel safe, bringing our own voice to the company, or boardroom table in an atmosphere of collaboration and trust.

? Authentic leaders encourage us to stop hiding from ourselves, because of what others might say and thereby we can accomplish far more than we are capable of as individuals, than when aspiring to leadership transformation on our own.

? Smart leaders, encourage us to stop living in the 'lonely' safe zone, but to live on our own terms and thereby we can all begin to excel and achieve more for the better good of those we interact with daily.

It's OK to be ahead of the rest as leader and creative thinker. You should always be thinking about how to bring out the best in those around you who are aspiring to be great leaders too.

Crafting exceptional leaders shouldn't be an exclusive exercise, but all importantly inclusive. Understand who you are as a leader and maximise your potential.

Whether the CEO of a company, boardroom director, manager of a team, or political leader, it places you in a leadership position where you are allowed to make it an exciting collaboration, not just a cooperation.

Cooperation allows working together agreeably, but collaboration means, you recognize that everyone on the team brings their unique skills to work together with far-reaching benefits thereby nurturing success & collaboration in a more balanced society.

E Tū Tāngata (Stand Together) is an initiative focused on turning Tall Poppy Syndrome and criticism around nationwide. Empowering people to build a culture where every person is valued.

Drop a comment or DM me if you want to raise further awareness on this topic. I always look forward to hearing from you.

Isadore Campbell, Certified Coaching Practitioner New Zealand?Nationwide.