Karen Ellis | Tall Poppy Theory
When excellence makes you
a TARGET
Research-backed guidance for high-performing
women navigating workplace bullying,
harassment, targeting, and retaliation.
Â
Start with the Free AssessmentWhat the research shows
In a two-year study of 76 women across 6 countries, the single strongest predictor of outcome was not which strategy a woman chose. It was how visible her response was before she understood her situation fully.
- 47% of women who responded visibly were involuntarily terminated within 12 months.
- Only 6% of women who responded covertly were terminated.
Â
What you do in the next 72 hours will either
protect your options or narrow them
Â
The first 72 hours are not about solving the problem. They are about protecting what is still in your control before the situation narrows your options.
The 72-Hour Stabilization Protocol is the research-informed first step for women who believe they are being targeted at work.
- Understand how serious your situation is
- Identify what is already visible and what is not
- Protect critical records, relationships, and options
- Avoid the early moves that most often make things worse
Three lessons. One working document. Completed in a single sitting.
Â
Research accepted for presentation at the International Association on
Workplace Bullying and Harassment conference, Canberra, Australia, 2026.
Â
Get the 72-Hour Protocol - $47