Achievement

For so long, a large part of the achievement was the badge which came with it. There was an honor associated with passing the test and becoming a member of an exclusive club. But, what about the sort of achievement which doesn’t have a test or highest score? What about smiles and generosity, grit and courage? What about dependability? We know these real skills when we see them. But, we rarely test for or teach them.

Emotional labor is hard to measure, which is why we focus so much on results. But, it’s also precisely why we should develop systems which nurture and reward people who excel in them. Perhaps we need badges for these achievements too.