Is there a way to excel at what I'm doing without provoking resistance and criticism?

Yes, but it takes work, if you display any kind of excellence, you are going to get hatred to some extent.

There is even a term for this: TALL POPPY SYNDROME No matter what people say, excellence is despised because people are petty and jealous.

So, the way to counter this is to be humble. Or, as the saying goes, "Humble yourself before someone else does it for you".

Pick up a book on sales, or Dale Carnegie's "How to win friends and influence people". You'd be amazed at how just a minor tweak to your language can change you from sounding arrogant or pushy or intimidating to sounding humble, cooperative, and helpful.

And, if you're any good, you need to play defense, because people will try to tear you down.

Do your work, do it well, and when you innovate, ask your team what they think. If you want to correct someone, or bring them up to speed on something, ask them what they think. Solicit input, socialize, and keep everyone in the loop.

You want to be seen as part of a team, and not the hotshot. Share information, be self-effacing, be of help to others, and make yourself a hub of information and assistance. This sets up interdependence between you and the team/group/company. If you are an active positive force to people, they will not give you trouble. There are very few people who will act against you when you are helping them.

Is there a way to excel at what I'm doing without provoking resistance and criticism?

Yes, but it takes work, if you display any kind of excellence, you are going to get hatred to some extent.

There is even a term for this: TALL POPPY SYNDROME No matter what people say, excellence is despised because people are petty and jealous.

So, the way to counter this is to be humble. Or, as the saying goes, "Humble yourself before someone else does it for you".

Pick up a book on sales, or Dale Carnegie's "How to win friends and influence people". You'd be amazed at how just a minor tweak to your language can change you from sounding arrogant or pushy or intimidating to sounding humble, cooperative, and helpful.

And, if you're any good, you need to play defense, because people will try to tear you down.

Do your work, do it well, and when you innovate, ask your team what they think. If you want to correct someone, or bring them up to speed on something, ask them what they think. Solicit input, socialize, and keep everyone in the loop.

You want to be seen as part of a team, and not the hotshot. Share information, be self-effacing, be of help to others, and make yourself a hub of information and assistance. This sets up interdependence between you and the team/group/company. If you are an active positive force to people, they will not give you trouble. There are very few people who will act against you when you are helping them.