Gifted Children Do Not Become Gifted Employees
Were you one of the lucky ones to be considered gifted in school? Chances are, you were not.
Only 6-10% of school-age kids in the U.S. are labeled as gifted, needing enrichment beyond the general classroom. These students are believed to have a deeper capacity to learn and understand complex subjects -- and great potential. The very reason they are set apart is because they will become bored, frustrated, or unmotivated when they are placed with low or average learners.
These kids get a gold star just for being naturally bright, while everyone else just sits there and tries like crazy to be their best
Once the gifted label is granted to children through testing, it sticks with kids throughout their school career. Teachers are given the challenge to ensure these gifted students will discover their true potential.
From the beginning, the gifted just seem to be set apart to do great things. They seem to have the way paved for them. But what happens to gifted students once they enter the workforce?
You may think that they continue to have all the advantages when they reach adulthood.
That is not true.
My experience after working with hundreds of the brightest professionals over the last 20 years and now as the CEO of Aha! (which is product roadmap software) is that gifted children do not automatically turn into gifted employees. Here is why:
Everyone told them they were awesome
Gifted children hear all the time that they are special, and they internalize all that positivity until it becomes the foundation of their confidence. When they turn into adults, they may be surprised that no one is telling them how awesome they are anymore. They will also face new challenges that will stretch them. Not being the best is often a blow to their self-esteem.
They have to set their own course
Once they get out of school, they may be surprised that no one is making sure they are being challenged or mapping out their career path for them. They have to take charge of their own life. That can be a tough lesson, especially for someone who has never had to struggle before.
Work is hard
Just because a student received that gifted label does not mean they will automatically succeed at their job. Once they enter the workforce, the benefits of the gifted label all but disappear. No one cares anymore. Natural ability is only a very small factor of success at work.
If you were not considered one of the gifted, take heart. The gifted may have natural smarts, but what matters more is the sheer effort you put into the job. Gifted children do not become gifted employees automatically.
Are you willing to work harder than everyone else and put in the time required to excel? If you do, you will be more likely to succeed.
When it comes down to it, the scrappy person who knows the value of hard work has a better chance at success, whether they are labeled gifted or not.
Have you seen someone who was labelled gifted as a child struggle with work?
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ABOUT BRIAN AND AHA!
Brian seeks business and wilderness adventure. He has been the founder or early employee of six cloud-based software companies and is the CEO of Aha! -- the world's #1 product roadmap software. His last two companies were acquired by Aruba Networks [ARUN] and Citrix [CTXS].
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Sr. Product Line Manager at ITW Food Equipment Group
9 年I never thought of my experience in a "talented and gifted" program as being a bad thing and I certainly don't recall anyone telling me I was awesome on a regular basis. My classwork was the same as all of the other students in regular courses, except I often had larger more detailed projects in addition to the typical work that was assigned. It was not uncommon to see students failing these courses as the additional workload was more than they cared to do. I can only speak from my experiences but many of the students in my courses have gone on to have very successful careers because they worked hard and earned it. It's an interesting theory that kids who are gifted have never had to struggle and one I would argue is extremely flawed. People who work hard are more likely to be successful then those who do not regardless of how they are classified and no person should ever feel shamed for having a talent that may set them apart from others. Professional athletes have a natural talent that gives them an advantage over their peers yet they do not become successful without hard work and determination. Individuals who do not take the time to cultivate their talents put themselves at risk for failure.
Staff Accountant at Kansas Children's Service League
9 年And if you add in the children who were home-schooled because their parents deemed them "to smart" to attend school, you have an especially awkward employee.
Bridging innovation gaps: Intrapreneur, Strategist | Project Manager | Tech Enthusiast | AI Advocate
9 年I couldn't help but write a reaction to this piece https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/how-end-underachievement-gifted-employee-samuel-prime
Human resources 500K companies and branches (World)
9 年The begun distributing sports has seen causes we considering by not cycles but flowing to anywhere so that don't see......
Learning Design and Development Specialist and Certified Diversity Professional
9 年While I would agree with much of this anecdotal assessment, are there studies or facts that would reflect this viewpoint? On the surface, these thoughts run uncomfortably close to the "all millennials are lazy and entitled."