Signs you have reached levels of your own incompetence

When I ran a Franchise restaurant not so long ago, it was painful to witness the levels of ignorance that held captive of the management team we had inherited from the Franchisor.  At first, it was very difficult to define or interpret the knowledge gap, because I myself was embarking on my own development track of becoming an experienced operator.  It was not long when I surpassed my own learning objectives when I uncovered the learning gaps in my management team.  I went through some parts of the grieving cycle: “denial”; “anger”; skipped “bargaining” and went straight to finally “acceptance.”  It was like watching a powerful icon fall from grace.  I had to promote one member to general restaurant duties and I had to demote and eventually dismiss a member who had been a 30-year veteran after some informal discussion on his own performance; followed by a grave alleged misconduct he committed.  Whilst he embodied a peaceful spirit in his execution of his duties; the poor middle-aged man had reached his own levels of incompetence which I reveal in my first upcoming book.

Since, then, I have identified some signs that may reveal that you or someone that you know may have reached their own levels of incompetence.  Feel free to add more to the list.  In no way is this list in any order of importance:

When you think longevity in a company translates to deep expertise

  

Did you know that you can be in a job long enough doing the same damn thing over and over, over a long period of time and because you are not honest and open to feedback about your job performance and how you can improve you will begin to think that you are the Don Jon of the gig.  Two things may happen (1) along comes a rookie and challenges your ‘formula’ out of pure curiosity and you instruct them to keep quiet and stay in their little corner – “watch n’ learn” they call it.  (2) you just become a monster menace in the office and bully your way through every meeting, negotiation to justify your long-standing service to the company.  In fact, you forget that being in the game is about “how relevant you are” it has nothing to do with how long you have been playing the SAME game.  I constantly have to reinvent myself despite what some people may call, “a colourful background.”  So, try not to take it personally, when you shower your decorative accolades to group of hungry learners and they say “so, what – what are we going to learn from you this moment.”  People need to feel that you have been of value to them on their journey of discovery-based learning.  Otherwise, you are not offering the world much by carrying your “heavy-weight” title around.

You think your view is always superior to that of others

A client once shared with a relative that they have never been around people smarter than her before.  This was after she spent a day with some of our very intellectual business colleagues and family members who are entrepreneurs and Chairman on several Boards.    

You are not open to your colleagues or your team’s ideas

I have been at both spectrums on this.  This one is a very delicate balance. Tread very carefully.

You lack emotional intelligence (EQ) and social intelligence (SQ)

This should be evident. No need to elaborate on this point. 

You really don’t know how much you actually don’t know

“It takes considerable knowledge just to realize the extent of your own ignorance.” – Thomas Sowell

One of my favourite Professors at university who taught me Contemporary Business in Finance, during my undergrad at Montclair State University, Joseph Dubanowitz once said in a recommendation letter he wrote to my future employers at the time: “Tambu, can at times be hard on herself…”  I am because I have always been in high performing teams.  The standard is always higher than the average.  Very competitive environment.  So, you develop a mental mechanism that even when you succeed at what your highest peak at that time is, you keep wanting to out-do yourself.  Therefore, I never revert to a state of “all-consuming, and all knowing” attitude.  It is very dangerous.  Eight years later, after I completed my Masters in Business Administration.  I was awed and still am, at how little I knew about markets, business, people and leadership.  I am in a constant state of knowledge-seeking.  Ignorance is not bliss.