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 \u2014 people who are committed, ethical, and deeply invested in their work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Workplace bullying is not a simple disagreement. It\u2019s a power dynamic in which individuals who feel threatened by someone else\u2019s excellence try to undermine them to protect their own status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to data from the Workplace Bullying Institute<\/a>, 61% of bullying victims are highly competent individuals<\/strong> perceived as a threat by colleagues or supervisors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The \u201cTall Poppy Syndrome<\/a>,\u201d 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 \u2014 who succeed, who stand out \u2014 often provoke envy and become targets of criticism or sabotage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I recently spoke with a man who had submitted a bullying report through our confidential support platform, Rez-care<\/a>. He was tall and physically strong \u2014 the kind of person who looks unshakeable. Yet years of jabs, \u201cjokes,\u201d and humiliating remarks from his manager had worn him down<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019t 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 \u2014 dominance was his way to exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another powerful metaphor is the \u201ccrab mentality.<\/a>\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Harvard Business Review<\/a><\/strong> study of 50,000 employees across 11 firms found that organizations marked by unhealthy competition and bullying suffer 50% higher turnover<\/strong>. Employees who harm colleagues through bullying, intimidation, or incivility can cost the company more than twice the value contributed by a \u201csuper-performer.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Conversely, recent research on workplace well-being and performance (Well-Being at Work and Innovative Performance of Employees<\/a><\/em>, 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 \u2014 directly benefiting the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are facing bullying, sabotage, micro-aggressions<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One essential truth \u2014 even if it offers little comfort given the damage bullying can cause to a career and a life \u2014 is this: your skills and integrity are precisely the reason you are being targeted.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udccc 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 \u2014 move toward those who recognize your worth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 Want to understand why some people bully? Discover the 11 unconscious reasons<\/a><\/em> we have identified through years of workplace support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jo\u00eblle Payom<\/a> \u2014 Consultant | Trainer | Workplace Trusted Person | Speaker | Founder of Rezalliance<\/a> & Rez-care.com <\/a>| Initiator of the International Day Against Workplace Bullying and for Inclusion<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udccb Experiencing harassment at work? Take our online self-assessment<\/a><\/strong>. 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 \u2014 people who are committed, ethical, and deeply invested in their work.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":236150,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_crdt_document":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-236149","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-non-classe"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rezalliance.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/236149","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rezalliance.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rezalliance.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rezalliance.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rezalliance.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=236149"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/rezalliance.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/236149\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":236151,"href":"https:\/\/rezalliance.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/236149\/revisions\/236151"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rezalliance.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/236150"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rezalliance.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=236149"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rezalliance.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=236149"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rezalliance.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=236149"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Who\u2019s afraid of the tall poppy?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Too good to go unnoticed<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The toxic \u201ccrab bucket\u201d effect<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A damaging impact on organizations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Excellence is a strength and an asset<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDiscover our solutions for healthy and equitable workplaces \u2935\ufe0f<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\ud83d\udedf Need personal support<\/a>? Our experts are here for you.
\u2699\ufe0f For organizations: Discover our custom solutions<\/a><\/strong>.
\ud83d\udce1 Learn more about our public awareness work through International Day Against Harassment and for Inclusion in the World of Work<\/em>https:\/\/24may.org\/en\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"