#9: Got a double promotion at your workplace? Congrats & sorry!
There is nothing more satisfying than being promoted in the workplace. It is a sign of recognition, respect and progression. Even more joyous is to obtain a double promotion. It simply makes you feel on top of the world, and you feel there is nothing to stop you. You feel you are the rockstar of your company. And then the reality sinks in.
The Curse of Double Promotion
While it feels great to update your LinkedIn profile and to flaunt your new position with your network, there is a high probability that you feel ambushed at this new role. You realise that the promotion was not because you were fit for this new role (which is two levels above your previous one), but because you excelled at your previous one. You excelled at things you already knew.
But now you realise that you cannot fulfil the needs of this role even with guidance from the senior pros, because you have to punch way above your weight! Should you have just desired promotion to the immediate next role then?
Don’t mistake me yet. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t strive for growth, but you should be aware of what is in your proximity and what is not! Let me illustrate this with a personal anecdote.
“Why don’t you represent the Indian cricket team?”
I’m a decent cricketer at the club level. I love the sport and sometimes I feel that I have outdone myself at the level at which I played. My friends and relatives at times comment (mostly in jest) that I have the capability to represent the national team one day. What if by sheer luck and a high dosage of nepotism, I get to represent the national team? It would be the biggest joke (and also the biggest tragedy) if that ever happened. Even with skilled coaches assisting me, it would be near impossible to transition into a level that is way beyond my status quo.
Hence, while making transitions, it is important to understand how much further we could push ourselves, with a little assistance along the way.
This is how cognitive growth works too! And this is what we are going to discuss further on this edition.
In the early 1900s, a Russian psychologist named Lev Vygotsky declared some controversial statements that went against the educational research at that time. He declared that there was no ideal age for learning, but that there were ideal stages of learning. He supported this statement with a framework called..
The Zone of Proximal Development
Let us review this framework with a relatable analogy: The traffic lights.
Green - We keep moving. These are the tasks we can do without assistance.
Yellow - We are ready to move to the next signal. These are the tasks we can do with a bit of guidance (or scaffolding). THIS IS THE SWEET SPOT - THE ZONE OF PROXIMAL DEVELOPMENT! The term ‘proximal’ refers to the skills that the learner is ‘close to mastering’.
Red - We need to stop. These are the tasks we cannot do even with assistance.
A premature summary of this edition would be: “Don’t mitigate the progress of your children by giving them tasks that are beyond their proximity”.
Giving such tasks will stress out children, make them disinterested and unmotivated. Not only this, they may no longer feel safe with the adult due to fear of ridicule or embarrassment.
The way around: Scaffolding
Scaffolding (also called guided learning or cooperative learning) could mean anything from the caregiver or a peer modelling a certain skill, providing verbal cues or feedback, using a certain material or demonstrating an activity. Through scaffolding, the learner is led through the Zone of Proximal Development.
The Art of Scaffolding
The result? The learner will be able to complete the same task unassisted in the future and shift his zone of proximal development further.
Recollect some scaffolding techniques discussed earlier on this newsletter? Let me list them out:
We will end this edition with a reflection:
Do you recognise the ZPD for yourself & your children?
Are you pushing your ZPD? If yes, what are the skills you are close to mastering, and what do you need to get there?
Picture courtesy: freepik
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As you rightly pointed out with cricket as an example, I have been in a similar kind of situation when people listen to me sing. They say why don't you take it as a career or why don't you participate in airtel super singer. More than what they say what we feel(inga enna solludhu) is what matters. In terms of the Job opportunities, when one gets a hefty pay they tend to get into a role/technology which they are not familiar with by tweaking the resume. Good to know about ZPD.