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Incompetency at the C-Level
In recent years, we’ve witnessed a concerning trend in the corporate world: an increase in incompetency among C-level executives. This issue isn’t exclusive to a single gender; it affects both male and female leaders.
While not all executives fall into this category, it’s important to understand why this phenomenon is on the rise and how employees can thrive while working under such leadership. To start, let’s explore the potential causes behind this trend and offer practical tips on how to navigate it successfully.
Confidence vs. Competency
One of the key challenges when dealing with incompetent C-level executives is their ability to project confidence. Many of these leaders excel at bluffing their way through situations, creating an illusion of competency that can be deceptive.
As Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, an expert in leadership and talent management, aptly puts it, “Incompetent leaders often have one skill that’s really well-developed: they’re very good at convincing others they’re more competent than they really are.” This phenomenon highlights the critical distinction between confidence and competency.
