Freedom Friday

Freedom Friday | Culture Check-In: The “Crabs in a Barrel” Effect

As a Professional Certified Coach, I often witness how limiting dynamics can quietly shape the culture of teams and organizations.

One that continues to surface...

 The crabs in a barrel phenomenon.

The story goes:

If there’s one crab in a barrel, it can climb out. But if there are several, they’ll pull each other down—ensuring no one escapes.

Sound familiar?

This metaphor is more than folklore. It speaks to toxic competition, scarcity mindsets, and self-sabotaging behavior that can erode psychological safety and block collective success.

Let’s reframe the narrative.

• What would it look like if your team created a culture of lifting, not limiting?

• How can you shift from crab behavior to collaborative leadership?

• Where might you—intentionally or not—be contributing to this dynamic?

  
  

This isn’t about blame. It’s about awareness.

As leaders, we must model a different standard. A culture of elevation. Accountability. Generosity.

This week, I challenge you to notice:

• Who are you pulling up?

• Who are you pulling down?

• Who's modeling the behavior you admire? Tell them.

• Who needs support to rise? Be that support...

  
  

Let’s lead with courage... Let’s create cultures where everyone climbs higher—together.

Call to Action:

• Tag someone who needs to hear this.

• Share this with your team.

• Use it as a conversation starter.

Let’s normalize better humans. We’re all in the barrel together—let’s lift.

You've got this!

Coach Tavia, PCC, MSEd

#LeadershipDevelopment #TeamCulture #FreedomFriday #CoachingCulture #BetterHumans #ExecutiveCoaching #EmotionalIntelligence #LeadByExample #PsychologicalSafety #RiseTogether