#EveryLittleActionCounts Week 56: Dare to break free from instrumentalism!
Satisfying our egos and the metrics established by our institutions are key strategies for many academics to ascend the academic ivory tower. In doing so, fostering caring connections and contributing meaningful and purposeful knowledge that supports the solving of societal challenges erodes. This can lead to unhealthy relationships and tensions with others, resulting in stress and continuous pressure to compete with them.
“Not everything. That counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts.” – Albert Einstein
Here are three tips that support you in breaking free from instrumentalism in academia:
Why do you care? – Take a moment to pause and reflect by stepping away from emails and tasks. Use this time to write a brief paragraph about why and how you care about what you are doing.
Enter a meaningful and purposeful collaboration –Dare to engage in a collaboration, as your primary intention is to nurture the project’s meaning and purpose, not its potential metrified value.
Talk about meaning and purpose with others – Instead of chatting about publication numbers and progression steps, talk and reflect with a colleague about the meaning and purpose of your teaching and research.
We would be very happy to hear about your strategies for breaking free from instrumentalism in academia!
Anne-Wil Harzing & Christa Sathish