Chapter 1
Simon Says
Are you a nerd? The self-knowledge of being a nerd is perhaps as important as learning to interact with the society at large. Perhaps that is half the marathon run. Were you "smart"at school and college? Were you popular? Being "smart" at school was not a big deal. There were things that counted for much more than being "smart" like physical apppearance, athletic ability etc. Most "smart" kids would want to be popular but it takes effort to do that. There is an inverse relationship in being smart and being popular. It takes effort to be popular just as it takes effort to be smart. So let me define a "nerd". A nerd is someone who isn't socially adept, in general, and is great at technical skills.
Why does it matter to us if someone is socially "gauche". At an "individual" level, it would be fine to be socially "uncool" because what one does at a personal level does not affect the society at large. When we graduate to the level of a "group", it becomes really important as to how the group dynamics work. It would be bearable if it did not have a significant impact on organizations that we work in. In today's competitive and demanding workplaces, it would be "difficult" to survive alone on technical skills. It requires employees to coordinate their efforts to meet the expectations and for that they have to communicate and understand.
Most nerds have a tremendous belief in their own abilities. They have their own beliefs which run counter to current organizational hierarchy. They prefer working according to their schedules, their goals are a bit different from the group they work in. Nerds are usually wary of working in teams, unless it is composed of people who put them at ease. To them, teams mean increased communication, conflicts to be resolved. They feel their effectiveness and efficiency suffers in a team and they prefer to avoid meetings if they can be.
It is a challenge for managers in organizations today, to tap the potential of employees, howsoever different they may be. They need to communicate and understand people working with them, for them and the fact that people come in all varieties imaginable, it is a gargantuan task for a manager to accomodate all.
For an example if I were to reflect on "Bob's Dilemma", I would feel it was a mistake on part of Bob and no one else. I would not expect a nerd (that is Simon) neither the top management (that is Jerry) to accomodate a lot. I would not expect Jerry to understand the group dynamics in Bob's group. Jerry has no insight into the workings of the group. He expects Bob to for everyone in and get the things done. Simon on the other hand is a hard worker. He gels with people of "his" type. He tries his level best to get going with the group. In effect, it is upto Bob to harness Simon's talent and abilities and meet Jerry's expectations. I feel that Bob is not vocal enough. He kind of fakes his feelings and it intensifies to such an extent that he feels loss of identity in the organization. I think it is important for people to say what they feel, in a manner that is palatable for the other person, but a person must say his apprehensions and opinions.
Now the thoughts turn to Nerds again. Can they be taught normal social behavior? It would mean asking them to unlearn their learnings. Probably what makes them "special" are those learnings. And they have a right to be unique in their own special way. So why try to "average" them out. It would be akin to fixing square pegs in round holes. It would probably be better to find them square holes to fit in.
Simon Says
Are you a nerd? The self-knowledge of being a nerd is perhaps as important as learning to interact with the society at large. Perhaps that is half the marathon run. Were you "smart"at school and college? Were you popular? Being "smart" at school was not a big deal. There were things that counted for much more than being "smart" like physical apppearance, athletic ability etc. Most "smart" kids would want to be popular but it takes effort to do that. There is an inverse relationship in being smart and being popular. It takes effort to be popular just as it takes effort to be smart. So let me define a "nerd". A nerd is someone who isn't socially adept, in general, and is great at technical skills.
Why does it matter to us if someone is socially "gauche". At an "individual" level, it would be fine to be socially "uncool" because what one does at a personal level does not affect the society at large. When we graduate to the level of a "group", it becomes really important as to how the group dynamics work. It would be bearable if it did not have a significant impact on organizations that we work in. In today's competitive and demanding workplaces, it would be "difficult" to survive alone on technical skills. It requires employees to coordinate their efforts to meet the expectations and for that they have to communicate and understand.
Most nerds have a tremendous belief in their own abilities. They have their own beliefs which run counter to current organizational hierarchy. They prefer working according to their schedules, their goals are a bit different from the group they work in. Nerds are usually wary of working in teams, unless it is composed of people who put them at ease. To them, teams mean increased communication, conflicts to be resolved. They feel their effectiveness and efficiency suffers in a team and they prefer to avoid meetings if they can be.
It is a challenge for managers in organizations today, to tap the potential of employees, howsoever different they may be. They need to communicate and understand people working with them, for them and the fact that people come in all varieties imaginable, it is a gargantuan task for a manager to accomodate all.
For an example if I were to reflect on "Bob's Dilemma", I would feel it was a mistake on part of Bob and no one else. I would not expect a nerd (that is Simon) neither the top management (that is Jerry) to accomodate a lot. I would not expect Jerry to understand the group dynamics in Bob's group. Jerry has no insight into the workings of the group. He expects Bob to for everyone in and get the things done. Simon on the other hand is a hard worker. He gels with people of "his" type. He tries his level best to get going with the group. In effect, it is upto Bob to harness Simon's talent and abilities and meet Jerry's expectations. I feel that Bob is not vocal enough. He kind of fakes his feelings and it intensifies to such an extent that he feels loss of identity in the organization. I think it is important for people to say what they feel, in a manner that is palatable for the other person, but a person must say his apprehensions and opinions.
Now the thoughts turn to Nerds again. Can they be taught normal social behavior? It would mean asking them to unlearn their learnings. Probably what makes them "special" are those learnings. And they have a right to be unique in their own special way. So why try to "average" them out. It would be akin to fixing square pegs in round holes. It would probably be better to find them square holes to fit in.
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