EP 442: When The Voice In Your Head Whispers... Meritocracy

Today’s episode is a sneak peek of Work In Practice, my new 12-week training program for guides of all kinds. This program offers a toolkit for identifying the beliefs and stories that make a more sustainable relationship with work possible. If you’re a coach, consultant, manager, or trainer who works with people rethinking how they work, this is for you.

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"Anyone can succeed if they work hard and apply themselves!" That's the voice of meritocracy.

Unfortunately, that sweet, encouraging voice can easily turn to "If anyone can succeed if they work hard and apply themselves, why aren't you working harder?!"

Meritocracy sounds great when you're on the side of opportunity. However, personal setbacks and systemic oppression can easily turn meritocracy into the voice of failure.

Footnotes:

• Students for Fair Admission v. Harvard in Slate's Juris Prudence and on 5-4
• Thick by Tressie McMillan Cottom
• "Leaving the Cult of Never Enough with Manisha Thakor" on What Works
• "What is Capitalism Realism?" on What Works
• The Meritocracy Trap by Daniel Markovits
• "'The Meritocracy Trap,' Explained" by Roge Karma
• Psychopolitics by Byung-Chul Han

Every episode of What Works is also published in essay form and delivered in my newsletter: whatworks.fyi

Work with me: I’m teaching a 12-week training program for coaches, managers, consultants, and guides of all kinds starting in September. The program is called Work In Practice, and it’s a deep dive into the social, political, and economic systems that impact what we believe about work.

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