TACKLING TALL POPPY SYNDROME TO TRANSFORM AOTEAROA
Adopt the E Tū Tāngata mindset and help shift our culture of criticism.
Tall Poppy Syndrome holds us back.
What is E Tū Tāngata?
Tackling Tall Poppy Syndrome
We have a good reputation. New Zealanders are generally known as: friendly, hardworking and laid back. But live here for a while and you’ll also discover we have a bad habit of criticising one another. This criticism can range from good-natured ribbing amongst friends to brutal slurs towards strangers on social media and everything in between.
Otherwise known as the Tall Poppy Syndrome, this culture of criticism is so entrenched in our society that individuals self-deprecate in order to beat others to the punch (so to speak). We have become our own harshest critic and we live with the erroneous belief that, somehow, your success is a threat to mine.
But just because something is, doesn’t mean it should be.
E Tū Tāngata is an initiative focused on turning our culture of criticism around. Empowering you to build a culture where every person is valued.
Why use E Tū Tāngata?
To Transform Communities
E Tū Tāngata seeks to change the narrative. Instead of criticism (which can lead to damaging beliefs about yourself and others), we want to raise the bar. To believe that each individual has value, that we can succeed together and that others matter is at the core of E Tū Tāngata. We want to create a new script, whereby people can authentically E Tū Tāngata (Stand Together) in support of one another; this is about celebrating individual success and championing one another in pursuit of dreams and accomplishments.
We have always been a nation that rises to a challenge; tell us we can’t do something and we’ll create it out of number eight wire. So, let’s do this New Zealand. Let’s make Aotearoa a nation where each individual can hold their head high and be all that they can be, knowing that they have the applause (rather than the criticism) of their friends and family.
Because that will be a reputation worth having.
How does E Tū Tāngata Transform Communities?
3 Stages of E Tū Tāngata
Awareness “I see the issue”
We begin by recognising that Tall Poppy syndrome exists and help people see it’s a conversation that needs to be had.
This could be by sharing E Tū Tāngata materials.
Alignment “I think about how this can work”
Next we think about where we are and how we can do better as individuals, whānau, organisations and businesses with E Tū Tāngata principles.
This could be hanging up posters or becoming advocates of E Tū Tāngata.
Application “I apply this to everyday life”
Finally we apply the E Tū Tāngata mindset to our everyday experience.
This could be using the E Tū Tāngata toolkit plus developing our own resources.
Principles of E Tū Tāngata
E Tū Tāngata focuses on three core principles, encouraging personal reflection, group work and community contributions. The resource has been developed to take individuals and groups on a journey, focusing on the following principles:
