“Tall Poppy Syndrome”, whereby people who achieve success are cut down, manifests in many ways. So very often we see ambitious, and driven women targeted and belittled due to envy, fear, or resentment. We may even have experienced these feelings toward others, or from others toward us. This can cause those affected, to play small and to not try so hard, to minimize their accomplishments and avoid openly sharing what’s going well.

We can change this tendency toward tall poppy syndrome, by starting with ourselves and those directly around us, to re-frame success and to share and amplify it. Starting with our own personal routines and habits, and each week include with our planning an acknowledgement and celebration of the wins and progress of the week prior.

Within our teams, communities, and organisations, we can encourage sharing, acknowledgement and celebration of success, not only big success but routinely offering opportunity to acknowledge the big and the small wins accomplished.

Conversations around how we each “define” success, how we innovate and rise to meet that definition, and discussions with colleagues offering perspective and encouragement will help grow self-worth and potential. In this way we make success something to share, acknowledge, and celebrate, a regular practice, and we can show leadership in supporting others to meet their goals, grow in self-worth and to step up so they can create their own version of success.