Learned Expertise v/s Lived Experience

Over the past week I indulged in an activity I hardly ever participate in - binge watching the courtroom series, Suits, on Netflix. Apart from the fact that I simply adore Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht), I was pleasantly surprised by a dialog that (Louis Litt) Rick Hoffman when he tells Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams), "You're not a fraud, Mike, you just never went to law school.". This was something I was contemplating recently and the reference stuck.

About the same time, my 16-yr-old was going through a 12-page questionnaire to document his personality, achievements and moments of challenge all to help his teachers best highlight his skills and abilities in letters of recommendation to his chosen universities. While he was spending time putting in his grades, soccer and basketball achievements, prefecture opportunities in, I could see that he was reluctant to add experiences from his personal life to showcase his natural tendency to find solutions, address challenges and demonstrate maturity and responsibility. I was painfully aware that the quest for professionalism was leading him to discount and undermine the worth of his personal hardship, what he learnt from it and how he chose to go about it. It is not an easy choice for a 16-yr-old to have to grow up faster than his peers because of personal circumstances. It is harder still to not see the unfairness of it vis-a-vis his peers who haven't experienced similar struggles, or even nothing close to it. Yet, the lessons of life and our experiences are our unique set and the skills that we learn from these are far more valuable that simple 2 dimensional certificates.

I'm not digressing here - I'm just connecting the dots of various thoughts in my head when it comes to what we look for in our workforce. Not frauds, no, definitely not condoning the path of Mike Ross - but rather highlighting the wholeness of who we are and what makes us who we are. I am talking about the lived experience of the applicant as opposed to the documented academic achievements, work experience, past job titles, well chosen references and letters of recommendation. I'm looking at the circumstances and the background of what made Mike Ross who he was and the skills he honed because of them. (again, not condoning fraud)

Lived experience.

There is so much more richness to the team when the members bring in with them a collective of who they are and where they come from. The creativity of a diverse team is amplified when the team members bring in the vibrance of their lives and past experiences - both professional as well as personal. Challenges come to us in all forms and when we least expect them. An individual's response to difficult moments of crises gives us an indication of their natural tendency, response and approach to crisis, change and stress and more importantly, gives us a realistic glimpse of their leadership style, work ethic and sense of responsibility, skills and strategy. I believe this to be true even for every applicant to the workforce and especially the people who do not necessarily have the academic qualifications and education to prove their expertise. Women who have had to forego an education due to lack of opportunity or access but still worked away to be sole breadwinners in the midst of domestic violence or single parenthood may not have a university degree, but may very likely have brilliant management and logistics skills.

Likewise, this attitude also encompasses PwD who are not necessarily defined by their disabilities but by the creative skills they possess because of it. There is only so much that one can acquire from an education. The facts of a subject topic and the passive learning that comes from memory and textual grasping power. The ability to churn out the words that formed the core of the 20th century learning & education system - a 2D level of examined knowledge that is important, but often sidelined the multidimensional learning that occurs in life. It is an opportunity that often gets dominated and superimposed by certificates, diplomas and university credentials.

Lived experience gives a depth to expertise from natural creativity and wisdom that evolves when one's back is pushed to the wall. This is usually also when there seems to be no other choice but to make things happen. To make things happen when, usually, the benefit of privilege is taken away from them due to the situation at hand or crippling circumstances.

Embracing diversity from lived experience rather than solely by virtue of learned expertise urges the team to embody inclusion not just for the 'others' but for the 'us' in the group. It brings an authentic sense of compassion, empathy and opportunity to create change intrinsically, for each other and for mutual benefits. This, in turn, reconditions the mindset of the team by opening them up to being more creatively productive and solution oriented.

Bottom line - everyone becomes a part of the solution - wholly.

#DiversityAndInclusion #Inclusion #Millennials #Workforce #Experience #Expertise #LivedExperience #PwD #WomenInTheWorkforce #Skills #Competencies