Fakes Frauds and Fallacies

🎥 New #HackingAcademia episode just dropped – and it's a sensitive but hopefully somewhat cathartic one, perfect for a Friday afternoon:

𝐅𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬, 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬

🤯 “That guy sounds like a total fraud.”
😠 “I have no idea how they got that role – they're a disaster.”
🤔 “If they’re taking advice from her, they’re in real trouble.”

We’ve probably all heard variations of these. Maybe even said them on occasion.

My intent in today's video is to unpack the key issues and concepts that arise in these situations, and some suggestions on how to approach them.

In trying to ⚽ play the ball, not the person, I'd emphasize almost everyone has lots to offer: this is about their portrayal, and other's portrayal of them, and the perceptions of others that sometimes arise that the portrayal is wildly inappropriate or fraudulent.

Key points covered in the video:

🎭 Most accused of fakery are actually good at something - but sometimes they just haven’t found the right niche yet. It's also not easy: there's a lot of work to keep up the charade!

🪞 Bias about what an expert shoud "look like" and "sound like" are widespread and not helpful here

A two for one:

1) 🔍 Experts often overestimate how much expertise a role really needs.

AND

2) 🧪 Decision-makers often underestimate the depth required - this can be CATASTROPHIC.

💼 People need to earn a living, and those hustling outside the safety net of secure jobs often face somewhat unfair criticism from those in secure positions.

😶 A BIG one: ELOQUENCE IS NOT EXPERTISE. OMG 🤯

📉 But conversely, expertise without some semblance of communication ability limits its utility.

👋 When complaining about someone in a role, remember sometimes they're the only person who put their hand up!!!

🧠 It takes an expert to validate another expert.

🌐 Professional careers run on relationships - trust is often extended more easily to people we know.

🤝 many roles require expertise paired with networks, influence, to be effective

👥 For every person you think is a fraud, there’s others who think they’re brilliant.

🔁 Your opinions - and others of you - will likely will change over time, based on new experiences or context.

⏳ "Truth will (mostly) out (eventually". Promises fail, tech doesn’t work, good or bad reputations are established. That doesn't mean some genuinely fraudulent individuals can't do a lot of damage in the meantime.

🌱 A little 🧂 patience in judging can go a long way. Calling everything out, often wrongly, will burn you out, won't actually help, and you'll be miserable in the process.

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👉 Watch the full video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/eOs2VgIrfI8

#AcademicLife #ResearchCulture #Careers #Fraud #Fake #Misrepresentation #Trust #Expertise #communication #reputation #biases #ProfessionalDevelopment #Leadership #CareerAdvice