Time after time such interrogative statements emerge in the mind of every direct report. To the subordinate most managers are in a certain position for reasons of either sheer luck, unquestionable polishing of boss’s shoes or for the fact that he is son-in-law of the chairman.
Time after time such interrogative statements emerge in the mind of every direct report. To the subordinate most managers are in a certain position for reasons of either sheer luck, unquestionable polishing of boss’s shoes or for the fact that he is son-in-law of the chairman. Managers may be au-fait in certain matters not in all matters. All managers inevitably rise to their levels of incompetence. Some do so in quick time, while others last longer.
Bosses are merchants of corporate power play. They aren’t dumb generally. They keep themselves afloat through design, sometimes nefarious but could also be with good intent. They seek allies not workers. In this journey, bosses create conditions that would herald “after me, the deluge!” The environment begins to recognize them as the Alpha and Omega of the corporate entity. Such managers are Lilliputians pretending to be an Amazon.
Incompetent bosses are easy to recognize. He will reject all good ideas if he cannot patent them as his own. A fault would be found with suggestions on the pretext of cost of implementation or its untimeliness. There will always be an excuse to reject creativity amongst subordinates. Suffering from severe insecurity such a supervisor will never allow for his subordinates to be part of any interdepartmental teams; lest the subordinate gets recognised for his skill and talent by others. With this kind of attitude, any effort that crosses through different layers of the organisation is most likely to end up being an apple of discord. No credit would be given to the competing divisional head, in a joint effort.
Incompetence is also fairly recognised if the boss himself hasn’t moved places. If the boss is stuck in his current position for long number of years, it is indicative to the reports that they have no future in that division- the subordinate will have to move laterally if possessed with ambition to succeed.
Incompetent bosses are not only Janus-faced but are Janus-headed too. They simply over-arch their zone of responsibility through positional power of retribution. They rule by fear. You would find them hiding their in-competencies by a prominent display of mercurial temperament. Every step would be taken to nip in the bud any thought that would either challenge the status-quo or invalidate a current process. Incompetence is allergic to new ideas. Managers with this mindset would go to length to create impediments in the infusion of youthful energy and zest in their departments.
They would be content with the near-to-average performers. I have had colleagues in my career who would state to me that I don’t want youngsters in my division or branches because they are an ambitious lot, who ask many questions of how, why etc. We don’t have time to teach. Good. At least incompetence is not being harvested and distributed, I would retort. In fact, I have found many managers (bosses) who were just too afraid to let their subordinates to meet, let alone interact with their bosses. Efforts to bring in fresh blood into management are always thwarted by the incompetent boss.
The emotion of fear is dominant in the incompetent manager. In fact, their best friend is ‘fear’; little do they realize that it is in fact their worst enemy. Excess of fear is invariably powerless. In a management structure, nothing is uglier than to have members who are a frightened lot. Ben Jonson wrote, “O! How vain and vile a passion is fear! What base uncomely things it makes men do.” While fear does weaken judgment, it also could prompt cruelty.
Managers suffering from fear can never be virtuous and recognized. What does the incompetent boss fear the most? The fear of losing control. This single facet in any personality is the most potent impediment in the path of progress and creativity. To such, the fear of unknown is a threat to their position. The incompetent manager is a victim to false modesty and is plagued by very low self-esteem that he continually masks through the creation of a large cesspool of self-deception.
An incompetent boss survives to the dismay of the intelligent and the capable. On a close examination of how such persons survive, you would invariably find that the incompetent manager is a triton among minions. He ensures to be surrounded with even more incompetent persons. The incompetent led by the least incompetent.
On a placid sea, no one can become a skillful mariner. Each manager rows with the oars that he possesses. The winds and waves are always on the side of the ablest navigators. It is competence that governs the corporate vessel.
These managerial despots will do anything to be against you. Their sense of self-importance will steadfastly nibble at your strengths, with intent to weaken and crush. It is here that the test of competent sub-ordinates comes into play. Thwart their nefarious designs by reacting with positive energy. Be patient. All negative forces ultimately yield to patience.
Any boss who claims to be fed regularly with heavy dosages of false achievements is an incompetent ego-maniac. Such managers only want to be heard, they would never hear. To suit this demand you would find them surrounding themselves with light weights.
The incompetent boss will unmask his true self by the sheer nudity of his inflated ego.
In dealing with incompetence, it is best to watch such managers slide from being egotistical and ego-centric to being ego-maniacal and finally into the hellish ditch of ‘self-pity’.
In dealing with incompetent bosses, demonstrate stoic patience. If you can’t stop the march of the incompetent boss to the garden path, know that he will arrive at the precipice- system will ensure his jumping the cliff. So the moral behind all incompetent managers is a major opportunity waiting for the patient and the talented. Don’t rush to crucify your boss- he will do so, himself. Remember patience.
The writer is a senior banker
