Why does nearly every company promote people who are grossly incompetent?

It seems to be a combination of the team got the work done in spite of the manager's incompetence, or the feeling that they might be somehow more suited for a higher level job.

Edit: Top of the page for that. :(

Scott Adams has a theory about this. Basically it goes that incompetent people get promoted to get them away from any position where they could actually hurt the company. Basically management in buisnesses way of culling the herd.

So that's how my last boss got his position....

Scott Adams has a theory about this. Basically it goes that incompetent people get the promoted to get them away from any position where they could actually hurt the company. Basically management in buisnesses way of culling the herd.

I just got promoted....

David Fryer wrote:

Scott Adams has a theory about this. Basically it goes that incompetent people get the promoted to get them away from any position where they could actually hurt the company. Basically management in buisnesses way of culling the herd.

One of my friends has a slightly different theory on this, which is that people get promoted to their level of incompetence. There's this common misconception that someone who is good at a lower level job will be good at a higher one. So they keep promoting them until they end up in a job they can't do. And then they get stuck there. :/

David Fryer wrote:

Scott Adams has a theory about this. Basically it goes that incompetent people get the promoted to get them away from any position where they could actually hurt the company. Basically management in buisnesses way of culling the herd.

One of my friends has a slightly different theory on this, which is that people get promoted to their level of incompetence. There's this common misconception that someone who is good at a lower level job will be good at a higher one. So they keep promoting them until they end up in a job they can't do. And then they get stuck there. :/

I wonder where the preschool bus is. It is really, really late.

I wonder where the preschool bus is. It is really, really late.

Bookmark. Gotta go back to work.

Gotta go back to work.

Don't worry. I'm still here.

So am I.

Me too!

Why does my company promote people who are grossly incompetent?

So tired. And the kid is taking so much attention today. Not to mention the laundry and dishes that still need to get done. And I have to take out the trash. Oh yeah, and finish that character. Want nap. :/

Me too!

Celestial Healer wrote:

Why does my company promote people who are grossly incompetent?

Can't fire someone? Promote them out of your dept! Works in schools nowadays too!

Divad Frier wrote:

Me too!

No you aren't.

I just signed up for a single-session cooking class. How fun.

David Fryer wrote:

Divad Frier wrote:

Me too!

No you aren't.

Don't reject me David! I'm part of you.....!

Divad Frier wrote:

David Fryer wrote:

Divad Frier wrote:

Me too!

No you aren't.

Don't reject me David! I'm part of you.....!

Now you understand how I feel.

Solnes' First Alias wrote:

Divad Frier wrote:

David Fryer wrote:

Divad Frier wrote:

Me too!

No you aren't.

Don't reject me David! I'm part of you.....!

Now you understand how I feel.

Rejection hurts....

I just signed up for a single-session cooking class. How fun.

Divad Frier wrote:

Solnes' First Alias wrote:

Divad Frier wrote:

David Fryer wrote:

Divad Frier wrote:

Me too!

No you aren't.

Don't reject me David! I'm part of you.....!

Now you understand how I feel.

Rejection hurts....

But not as much as a plasma bolt.

David Fryer wrote:

Divad Frier wrote:

Solnes' First Alias wrote:

Divad Frier wrote:

David Fryer wrote:

Divad Frier wrote:

Me too!

No you aren't.

Don't reject me David! I'm part of you.....!

Now you understand how I feel.

Rejection hurts....

But not as much as a plasma bolt.

You are correct meatbag.

Celestial Healer wrote:

I just signed up for a single-session cooking class. How fun.

Actually, that does sound like it could be fun. All the men in my family can cook, to one degree or another. And, while I certainly I'm certainly not the greatest cook in the world, a chance to improve might be interesting.

I just signed up for a single-session cooking class. How fun.

HK-47 wrote:

David Fryer wrote:

Divad Frier wrote:

Solnes' First Alias wrote:

Divad Frier wrote:

David Fryer wrote:

Divad Frier wrote:

Me too!

No you aren't.

Don't reject me David! I'm part of you.....!

Now you understand how I feel.

Rejection hurts....

But not as much as a plasma bolt.

You are correct meatbag.

Stop muscling in on my territory

Yeah, I just signed up for one session with a friend, so it shouldn't be too awkward. We're going to be making some French dishes, which should be fun and different.

But even before the class I'm going to be attempting chicken marsala for some company on Saturday :/

I told them I will have some spaghetti and sauce in the cupboard, just in case.

Time to head home folks. See you all later.

Time to head home folks. See you all later.

Bookmark!

Time to head home folks. See you all later.

Buy Aberzombie...it help's my stock options.

You now what I really love? When people lecture everyone around them about how they should do this or that because it is good for the planet, or some other nonsense and end their lecture with the phrase, "not that I would ever do that, but you should."

That reminds me of something else everyone should do...

My theory on why people who are incompetent are often promoted is a bit cynical, I'm afraid. My idea is that they may be incompetent at the actual work, but they're quite competent at other things, such as --

1. Flattery -- people with the power to promote other people usually eat up toadying like candy. Flattery will get you a lot of places -- it's as effective as bribes in some situations, according to some political biographies I've read.

2. Claiming the work of others -- sure, Fred the Industrious may have done 95% of the project, but he's a typical honest guy who figures he'll get promoted on the basis of what he does, and never toots his own horn. At the same time, Sam the Sly, who did the other 5%, presents the work to the boss, with a modest hint that he really did most of the work. See the "Flashman" series for a fictionalized version of how this works. ;)

Basically, I figure they're very good at playing the political game, even if they're lousy at actually working. And the higher they get in the organization, the more important the people they are who they can flatter directly, and the easier it is to make it look like the work of their now-underlings is mostly due to them.

This dose of cynicism brought to you free of charge by C. Bean, esq. ;)

We're going to be making it with some French dishes, which should be fun and different.

Mmm...French dishes...

Would you believe the cooking class got cancelled! They offered to reschedule, but I don't think I can make any of the other times...

Is it just me, or is there a lot of grumpiness going around today?

Is it just me, or is there a lot of grumpiness going around today?

Perhaps finding out that Sharoth and Sebastian are really the same person? *oops*

There's been grumpiness for the last few months, I think.

Mairkurion {tm} wrote:

Is it just me, or is there a lot of grumpiness going around today?

Nope. I'm feeling it too. The aftermath of the full moon? The sugar high crash after Halloween?

Perhaps finding out that Sharoth and Sebastian are really the same person? *oops*

Falls on own sword.

Well Amazon doesn't like my bank and Barnes and Noble doesn't have a copy of the bestiary, either in stock or in their warehouse according to the chicky girl I talked to on the phone. I don't know what I am going to do now.

I just want to love and be loved.

Is that so wrong -- to want the greatest thing of all?

Stomps through thread, taking out aggression where it will do no harm.

Crushing stray leprechauns.