Merit Has Changed, But Have You?
Big time.
When people are promoted for the wrong reasons, it doesn't just annoy their coworkers—it creates teams that underperform, managers who can't manage, and organizations stuck in mediocrity. Gallup research reveals that companies fail to choose the candidate with the right talent for leadership positions 82% of the time. That’s four out of five promotions wasted.
Think about it: the workplace has evolved dramatically. Yet our idea of merit remains stubbornly outdated. Being "next in line" or "easy to get along with" is still how too many decisions are made, even when it clearly isn't working.
Real merit today means the capacity and willingness to handle complexity, ambiguity, and rapid change. It’s about who has the emotional intelligence to understand people, the strategic mindset to navigate uncertainty, and the drive to tackle genuinely tough problems—not just who's popular.
So, Ask Yourself This: “Are the people you're promoting the best equipped to lead your business forward—or just the safest choice?”
Answer honestly, and you might realize why you're struggling with retention, performance, or innovation. The real cost of comfortable choices is your company's future.
It's Time for a Merit Reset If you're ready to stop pretending popularity and tenure equal merit, it's time to redefine what real leadership looks like in your company.
Look beyond who's comfortable. Start rewarding courage, curiosity, and genuine capability.
After all, isn’t that the kind of merit your company actually needs?
Find out about how best to measure and promote through merit by touching base with me at michael@workinsights.io.
Is "Merit" Just Another Word for Popularity Contest?
When was the last time you saw someone promoted and genuinely thought, "They earned it"?
Be honest. Because here’s the uncomfortable truth: most promotions have nothing to do with actual merit.
Sure, we talk a good game about performance, skill, and potential. But how often are those truly the deciding factors? More likely, it's tenure ("They've been here forever"), connections ("They know the right people"), or popularity ("Everyone likes them").
Let's call this what it really is: promoting based on comfort, convenience, and familiarity—not actual ability to lead.
And it’s costing your business.