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Why We Often Meet Incompetent People at Work
The Peter Principle
Ah, the corporate ladder. We’ve all dreamt of climbing it, haven’t we? But have you ever wondered why, as you ascend, you sometimes find yourself scratching your head at the decisions of those above you? Or perhaps you’ve been that person, suddenly in a role where you feel like a fish out of water. Welcome to the world of the Peter Principle.
What Exactly is the Peter Principle?
In 1969, a wise Canadian named Laurence J. Peter coined the “Peter Principle.” In essence, it states:
“In a hierarchy, every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence.”
In layman’s terms? We get promoted until we reach a position where we’re, well, not so great at our job. And then? We stay there. It’s like being the star player in a local football team, getting scouted for the big leagues, and then realizing you’re out of your depth. But instead of being benched, you’re stuck playing every game.
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