Certificates Of Merit Should Be Earned And Not Demanded

A certificate well earned is meaningful

This young lady in the picture above is so happy.

She has earned a certificate of merit.

She is proud of it.

These days people do not earn it. They demand it.

What is the meaning of earning a certificate? Why should we earn it?

Certification gives us the confidence to learn some new skills and abilities for specific expertise.

With a certificate, you can demonstrate that you possess the competence and meet a specific set of standards or requirements.

A certificate is awarded by an independent third party, such as an institute of learning for completing a certain job assigned to you, for carrying out a specific leadership job, or having attained credits in your study to acquire a new skill that will help you in your career.

When you earn a certificate you are happy and you get confidence that you have been able to achieve something in your life for which you are rewarded.

Very often, organizations have extracurricular activities at a place of learning. There can be debates, quizzes, or conferences where the students are required to do extra work to put together the program. If the program is a success, such students who went out of their way to do the work are awarded certificates.

In offices, too certain programs are held beyond what duty demands. It is like having a development program for employees. There can be official parties during a festive time where one person is given a charge. There can be a conference where the organizing committee does the job well. The office grants them a certificate for having done their work well.

These certificates show merit and help these people to further their careers.

Examples as to why merit should be earned and not demanded.

Example 1️⃣

Some time ago I was coordinating a quiz program where two organizations were cohosting the national-level program.

The program was in one of the institutions where the hall they had was magnificent and was in a neat and beautiful VIP area.

The students of both colleges were organized into different committees. Registration of teams was the focus after the posters for invitation were designed by the students.

They made a wonderful video to accelerate the interest of the various quizzing teams.

The organizing students demanded 200 certificates and registered only 18 teams.

called for a meeting immediately. I promised certificates to those who had designed the poster, certificates and made the flash videos.

I gave a condition to the registration team.

Certificates are to be earned and not demanded I told them. Which employer will release 200 employees to get 18 teams registered? Each person gets me 5 teams and I will get you a certificate.

The students understood their folly and were very sorry for what they had demanded. They understood the logic that they were going to soon go into the employment world. Does it seem logical to ask for 200 certificates? Some of them had already been employed and were completing their last semesters.

The program was a great success with 800 teams registered. The students asked for only 62 certificates in all. 35 from one institute and 27 from the other. They said that only deserving students should get certificates.

It was their own decision. They selected the students working in different companies and their leader gave their names. They had reception, food, printing, distribution, backstage, prizes, and registration and marketing committees.

They told me that it was a lesson well learned by them. They were motivated and inspired by what I had told them. They wanted to earn their certificate and feel the happiness for their merit.

Example 2️⃣

I was shell-shocked to receive an email that I was shortlisted for being a Power Woman of the year and that I should be available in Mumbai on some specific dates at a specified 5-star hotel to receive the award.

I had never met these people. I shot back a mail asking who was the jury and on what criteria I was selected.

I was told it is conditional. I need to deposit 20 K in Indian amount if I wanted this award. I refused.

I came to understand that anyone who was ready to give the amount and had some achievements could nominate themselves and get the award. In short, it was a money-making racket for the organizers. People paid for the trophy and the certificate as the award was presented in a glittering ceremony.

A person I know got several awards. To me, she had not achieved a lot. Many others had better achievements and done a lot of work. They were relatively unknown and they were not offered certificates.

This lady got awards like Woman Of The Year! Power Woman! Asia Achiever! Top 50 Women in Asia, Global Achievers Awards.

These were exclusive women's awards.

Another male friend called me up and said he had received an award for Global Achievers award.

He told me that they had asked for 30K and he decided to go and take it because it would add prestige to his status.

This has become a common phenomenon. Day-in and day-out awards are announced and people went to receive them. I went to a manager’s office. He had a collection of these trophies.

The takeaways

How do you feel when certificates are earned or are demanded?

• When certificates are earned there is confidence, happiness, and a feeling of recognition with pride.
• Certificates and awards are available for the asking these days but only take a well-deserved, well-earned certificate with a genuine jury and if you have actually done something that you think deserves merit and is well achieved.
• Taking certificates is not difficult. Do some service, work hard and the certificate is yours. Don’t take away other people’s rights.
• To be a leader certificates are not enough. It is the passion and driving force and morality that is important. A person does not show exemplary character when he or she acquires a certificate without any merit or achievement.

“The most essential requirement for leaders is neither age nor gender. It is neither certificates nor positions. It is the character that reveals trust and exemplary life.” ― Israelmore Ayivor, Leaders’ Ladder

To wrap up

I would like to say that a certificate has no meaning if you just take it without doing anything.

“Acquiring certificates without putting the mind at work is completely a waste of education.” ― Endale Edith

I will end by saying

Be inspired, Work hard and achieve a merit certificate! Do not demand it if you haven’t earned it! It is the luster of the character that shines when you earn your merit.

©Dr. Preeti Singh, 2022.

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