Challenge of converting academic meritocracy to real life meritocracy

Let us first understand the difference between the two situations: during education and at the workplace. Academics aims towards preparing us for real life. The environment it presents has most of the variables controlled. We are within the same/similar environment, interacting with almost the same group for a reasonably long duration, a defined syllabus, date sheets planned, etc. The surprise element is limited to surprise tests. However real life is a total surprise with limitless opportunities and unannounced challenges. This brings in the challenge for organizations to convert academic meritocracy to real life meritocracy at work.

While hiring majority of the organizations do keep note of a good academic record as it reflects qualities like intelligence, discipline and perseverance. However an individual may not be able to maintain the same level of meritocracy at work. Major reason for that may be the individual’s inertia towards the challenging environment, expecting things to be defined, predictable and choice based as earlier. There are few suggestions for individuals to overcome this challenge, although the list is not exhaustive:

• Keep learning: Sharpening the axe is as important in work as in academics. This is what helped in achieving academic meritocracy in first place.
• Explore: Unlike academics the syllabus is not defined so don’t limit the boundaries.
• Be open to change: At times the work assigned may not be as per interest of the individual. However real life situations demands for flexibility.
• Prioritize: It is important to understand what the priority in that situation is.
• Build on strengths: An individual cannot be excellent in all areas. One needs to build strengths to create value. In current times the dynamic workplaces create unique profiles that may also be cross functional rather than all individuals having the same set of responsibilities.
• Communicate effectively and develop good interpersonal skills: Success in work area is not just individual based. Co-curricular activities in academics do help in developing skills like teamwork and personality development. This however can become challenging in the workplace. Making a conscious effort at work is essential.
• Be Positive: “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new."― Albert Einstein. Things can be improved with efforts and a positive attitude.

Following points can be taken into account for creating an environment to foster success:

1) Individual differences: Realizing that every individual is different and needs to be dealt in a unique manner. This however does not suggest creating different rules for all.
2) Leverage on strengths: Recognizing strengths of an individual and building on it to create value in the system.
3) Career growth: To improve engagement in work the environment must encourage career growth of the individual.

To keep shining the star has to burn itself. We cannot rest on our past laurels in the quest of success. I would like to summarise the article with words of Sir Winston Churchill “Success is never final. Failure is never fatal. Courage is what counts. “