How do you deal with incompetence at work?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 May 2017 17:19:42 -0400

How do you deal with incompetence in your office?

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made May 25 at 2017 5:27 PM

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P — Thu, 25 May 2017 17:27:06 -0400

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2017 6:19 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 May 2017 18:19:45 -0400

Throat punch? Is throat punch an option?

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made May 25 at 2017 7:17 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Thu, 25 May 2017 19:17:18 -0400

Actually over my CS career, I've demoted and in some cases fired people for that. Hell, I canned an O-5 Ops Boss on the MIL side amongst others. Yes it's a somewhat onerous process, moreso on the CS side, but it can be done. Biggest thing is to keep everything clear and the employee makes all the decisions for you by what they do and don't do. And like Gunny Anderson, I did dive into the cognac stocks every now and then. But the rewards of improved morale for everyone else who were being dragged down was worth it.

Funny, I remember a GS-12 who never got promoted pounding the table and yelling he has 32 years experience. My response was he had one year's experience 32 times.

Response by SSG Johnnie Vaughn made May 25 at 2017 8:39 PM

SSG Johnnie Vaughn — Thu, 25 May 2017 20:39:15 -0400

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2017 10:29 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 May 2017 22:29:26 -0400

I just muddle along and hope that I've been moved to another section before people notice. It helps to be friendly and willing to assist others. You can be stupid and nice but not stupid and a jerk. Anyway, that's how I manage incompetence at work.

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 26 at 2017 2:05 AM

CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 May 2017 02:05:53 -0400

Incompetence left unattended can be a plague. It not only impacts the individual but his or her co-workers and the overall organization output. Standards need to be clear and personnel held accountable. Use to piss me off to no end when leadership would reassign a substandard performer so he/she could be someone else's problem. Who's the incompetent one?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 26 at 2017 7:20 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 May 2017 07:20:44 -0400

The answer is: frank and honest counseling with the intent to help the person be successful since they're already on your team. We're all working with the cards dealt to us, some people just play them differently.
The point of counseling is to improve their performance, but sometimes it just doesn't work. I've helped people find work elsewhere, sometimes they transferred before they were helped out of the GS system. Same with officers and enlisted. Honest rating that is supported by sincere counseling. When ratings are performed properly, they really do write themselves so I really like your picture up top that says their work speaks for itself. That's the best outcome.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made May 26 at 2017 9:14 AM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Fri, 26 May 2017 09:14:56 -0400

The answer to your question is the same in the military and civilian world. Basic leadership and management principles apply. If you are junior to the incompetent, you perform your duties and eventually those senior to the offender will note the changes and analyze from whence they came. If senior to the offender, you school them, record all their shortcomings and their response to your efforts, then follow the protocols of the organization to have them replaced. It works. No organization wants dead weight and, if nothing else, you can make the incompetent's life so miserable they want to leave. If your tenure as their senior is so short they don't leave while you are there, at least there is a record that your replacement can build upon.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made May 26 at 2017 10:07 AM

SGT Dave Tracy — Fri, 26 May 2017 10:07:36 -0400

By saying, "sure thing boss!"

;-)

Response by MSG Brad Sand made May 26 at 2017 1:58 PM

MSG Brad Sand — Fri, 26 May 2017 13:58:56 -0400

Sneak on to RP and vent. Maybe start a discussion on about 2nd LT saluting 1st LT and watch everyone lose their minds?

Response by LTC Stephen C. made May 26 at 2017 4:44 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Fri, 26 May 2017 16:44:03 -0400

LTC Private RallyPoint Member, the last incompetent person that worked for this financial services practice was fired. Happened about two months ago.

Response by SSG Eric M Hersh made May 27 at 2017 5:21 PM

SSG Eric M Hersh — Sat, 27 May 2017 17:21:10 -0400

the one word that I never liked transfer to a very cold place

Response by SP5 Laurie Mixter made May 28 at 2023 11:01 AM

SP5 Laurie Mixter — Sun, 28 May 2023 11:01:01 -0400

Sooo true!