Posted on Feb 10, 2016
Does the Peter Principle exist in the US Military?
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Peter Principle
The Peter principle is a concept in management theory formulated by Laurence J. Peter in which the selection of a candidate for a position is based on the candidate's performance in their current role, rather than on abilities relevant to the intended role. Thus, employees only stop being promoted once they can no longer perform effectively, and "managers rise to the level of their incompetence."
The Peter principle is a concept in management theory formulated by Laurence J. Peter in which the selection of a candidate for a position is based on the candidate's performance in their current role, rather than on abilities relevant to the intended role. Thus, employees only stop being promoted once they can no longer perform effectively, and "managers rise to the level of their incompetence."
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Leader Leadership
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 14
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No, many in the military are promoted well beyond their level of incompetence.
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The Peter Principle is a universal principle affecting all people everywhere. Unfortunately, the Peter Prescription (how to recognize your level of incompetence and avoid it) does not function in the military due to it’s up or out policies.
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SGT Jerrold Pesz
You are right Capt.Waddell. Up or out policies virtually guarantee that people will be promoted above their level of competence.
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Capt Seid Waddell
SGT Jerrold Pesz, according to the Peter Principle, nobody is promoted above their level of incompetence unless the person doing the promoting has already reached his own level of incompetence; this is known as Peter's Inversion.
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The officer corps is replete with examples of this. One really only needs to go to the correct PME and not get in their boss' crosshairs and sooner or later, you make LTC.
I have slightly more faith in the command selection boards.
For NCOs, it is almost like Lake Woebegone from "A Prairie Home Companion" where all of the kids are above average. How can everyone be "Among the Best"?
Thankfully, the new NCOER system addresses this, but many have already been promoted beyond their potential.
It is up to us as leaders to get the most out of our people, and it also up to us to make a true and accurate assessment of where they really rate, and not worry about their tender feelings being hurt.
I have slightly more faith in the command selection boards.
For NCOs, it is almost like Lake Woebegone from "A Prairie Home Companion" where all of the kids are above average. How can everyone be "Among the Best"?
Thankfully, the new NCOER system addresses this, but many have already been promoted beyond their potential.
It is up to us as leaders to get the most out of our people, and it also up to us to make a true and accurate assessment of where they really rate, and not worry about their tender feelings being hurt.
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SPC David S.
Nice Lake Woebegone reference - Peter principle is feeding responsibility with accountability and simply rewarding individuals for just doing their job. In the world of task management it works. However its not a stress tested system and when the SHTF you may find the leadership in place is ineffective in dealing with the crisis.
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