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See also "The Peter Principle," which famously argued that everyone eventually rises to their level of incompetence. The more interesting question is what do y
by MilnerRoute 6y ago
See also "The Peter Principle," which famously argued that everyone eventually rises to their level of incompetence.
The more interesting question is what do you do in response to that? The Peter Principle books actually argued you should turn down that last promotion. But how do we avoid becoming Michael Scott?
- neom 6y agoCan you recommend some good "The Peter Principle" books? I'm unfamiliar, would love to learn.
- mathgeek 6y ago“The Peter Principle” by Laurence J. Peter
- croissants 6y agoOh geez. Until now, I thought the "Peter" in the Peter Principle was the biblical Peter, and I interpreted it as an indictment of Peter eventually getting promoted to a quasi-Jesus role as leader after Jesus...left the scene.
- greesil 6y agoKeep doing actual coding at least some of the time. Unless you care about income, in which case try to ascend the ziggurat.
- the-dude 6y agoHow do you know it is your last promotion?
- sokoloff 6y agoThe thing about the Peter Principle is how do you know which is the "last promotion" that you should turn down? No one should turn down the first promotion (from "fresh into the workforce" to "basically competent developer" [or journeyman welder/electrician/plumber or whatever the equivalent is for your field]). After that it gets murky because everyone has their own abilities and willingness to do what it takes to compensate for their own flaws and take advantage of their strengths.
- karaterobot 6y agoI've seen a few developers get pushed into a management due to their leadership on engineering teams, and do an okay job in that role, but return to development after a year or less. One of them told me he recognized he had reached the level of his incompetence and did not want to be That Guy. I suspect that was true for some of the others as well, and I wish it was more common.
- LordDragonfang 6y agoI think we just need to make it more acceptable in corporate culture to go, "hey, I'm no longer growing or thriving in this role, perhaps I should return to my old one", preferably without receiving a pay cut.
- sokoloff 6y agoSeems to me like you should be paid for the job you’re now doing, rather than the one you’re not doing.
- vidarh 6y agoMaking secondments and mentoring a more integral part of the process, perhaps, so you promotions happens because of demonstrated skill at what you would be promoted into, rather than demonstrated skill at what you would get promoted out of.