Excellence attracts envy
A persistent myth suggests that people targeted by workplace bullying are weak. The truth is very different. Research consistently shows that those most exposed are often the ones who excel — people who are committed, ethical, and deeply invested in their work.
Workplace bullying is not a simple disagreement. It’s a power dynamic in which individuals who feel threatened by someone else’s excellence try to undermine them to protect their own status.
According to data from the Workplace Bullying Institute, 61% of bullying victims are highly competent individuals perceived as a threat by colleagues or supervisors.
Who’s afraid of the tall poppy?
The “Tall Poppy Syndrome,” widely known in Australia and New Zealand, describes the tendency to cut down the flowers that grow higher than the rest. In other words, people who shine too brightly — who succeed, who stand out — often provoke envy and become targets of criticism or sabotage.
In the workplace, this syndrome translates into hostile behaviour toward colleagues who outperform others. Their very presence reminds others of their own limitations, triggering jealousy and resentment. This is not just a personal issue: organizations that fail to manage these toxic dynamics end up losing their most valuable talent.
Too good to go unnoticed
I recently spoke with a man who had submitted a bullying report through our confidential support platform, Rez-care. He was tall and physically strong — the kind of person who looks unshakeable. Yet years of jabs, “jokes,” and humiliating remarks from his manager had worn him down
He got along with everyone and regularly exceeded his objectives. So when I asked him why he believed he was being targeted, his answer didn’t surprise me: his manager wanted to break him down and push him out, just as he had done with others before. This manager, unable to teach him anything about his role, felt threatened by his efficiency and his strong relationships with clients and suppliers. He needed obedience, even without adding any value — dominance was his way to exist.
Through constant contradictions and subtle manipulation, the manager eventually made him doubt his own cognitive abilities (gaslighting). This is what often happens to competent, ethical professionals: they become prime targets for mediocre individuals with dysfunctional egos.
The toxic “crab bucket” effect
Another powerful metaphor is the “crab mentality.” Place several crabs in a bucket, and whenever one tries to climb out, the others pull it back down. This describes perfectly what happens in certain workplaces.
Instead of celebrating or learning from those who succeed, some colleagues or managers choose to discredit them, isolate them, or push them toward failure. This climate harms not only the victims but the entire organization. Jealousy, extreme competition, and gossip create fertile ground for bullying.
A damaging impact on organizations
Employers who turn a blind eye to these behaviours take major risks. When a company allows a bullying culture to grow, it inevitably loses its top performers.
A Harvard Business Review study of 50,000 employees across 11 firms found that organizations marked by unhealthy competition and bullying suffer 50% higher turnover. Employees who harm colleagues through bullying, intimidation, or incivility can cost the company more than twice the value contributed by a “super-performer.”
Conversely, recent research on workplace well-being and performance (Well-Being at Work and Innovative Performance of Employees, 2022) shows that organizations that prioritize fairness, respect, and psychological safety create environments where talent thrives and innovation increases. Supported and respected employees are more engaged, more productive, and more creative — directly benefiting the company.
Excellence is a strength and an asset
If you are facing bullying, sabotage, micro-aggressions, or gossips meant to discredit you, remember this: it says far more about your aggressors than it does about you. Their behaviour reflects their own limitations, insecurities, and lack of confidence.
One essential truth — even if it offers little comfort given the damage bullying can cause to a career and a life — is this: your skills and integrity are precisely the reason you are being targeted.
📌 The world needs skilled, committed people. Do not let anyone dim your light. You deserve to work in an environment where your integrity is respected and your contributions acknowledged. If your workplace is toxic, seek support from trusted people and use reporting mechanisms if available. If nothing changes, take action to protect your health by changing your environment. Get professional support to rebuild your confidence and move forward. Walk away from those who try to pull you down — move toward those who recognize your worth.
💡 Want to understand why some people bully? Discover the 11 unconscious reasons we have identified through years of workplace support.
Joëlle Payom — Consultant | Trainer | Workplace Trusted Person | Speaker | Founder of Rezalliance & Rez-care.com | Initiator of the International Day Against Workplace Bullying and for Inclusion
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📡 Learn more about our public awareness work through International Day Against Harassment and for Inclusion in the World of Workhttps://24may.org/en/.