Liderança na MB: a importância da meritocracia como ferramenta de liderança no CFN

Abstract

This study aims to understand whether or not meritocracy should constitute a leadership instrument in the conduct of military personnel from the Brazilian Marine Corps (BRMC). The question is justified in view of the perceived demotivation of military personnel in the Brazilian Navy. There is, on the part of some, the understanding that efforts are not properly recognized by leaders on a daily basis, as well as in evaluation and selection processes throughout their careers, causing disbelief in meritocratic criteria and, ultimately, compromising the essential relationship of trust between leaders and followers. Therefore, fully understanding the concept meritocracy will make it possible to establish a possible connection between this definition and effective leadership practices. The study of this correlation can act as a catalyst for change, by promoting reflections and critical positioning on the essential relationship between leaders and followers, as well as deepening the understanding of leaders in relation to performance, motivation and well-being of those being led. For this purpose, the study was based on qualitative and quantitative research, guided by a bibliographic review related to the theme and content analysis of semi-structured questionnaires, addressed to Commanders of Military Organizations of the Brazilian Marine Corps, precisely with the objective of assess the importance of meritocracy in leadership practices. The time frame of the research emphasized the period from the second half of the twentieth century to the present day, bearing in mind that the initial principles of important theoretical approaches to leadership maintained, in that period, the recurrence and the currentness of the debate on the topic. Priority was given, for data reading, to the content analysis technique, which, in turn, helped to research, reflect and discuss the answers to the open questions present in the respective questionnaire. The study gave rise to a discussion regarding the standardization and instrumentalization of meritocracy in the BRMC, the inclusion of the topic in course documents and curricula, the urgency to develop a personnel assessment system that aims to inhibit the lack of standardization, as well as making efforts to make BRMC leaders aware of the relevance of feedback, especially in performance evaluation processes, until this practice is enshrined in their organizational culture