For a workplace to run smoothly there has to be a team of people working with the same goal of business success in mind. But what do you do when you experience workplace incompetence? What is people operations? What’s defined as incompetence in a business?
- Unreliability
- Problems accomplishing goals
- Making the same errors in the workplace
- Lack of communication, disorganization, and a spaced-out perspective at work
It can be hard to witness someone’s incompetence, especially at work. Incompetence might seem like a harsh word, but by definition it means the inability to do something successfully. It doesn’t mean that someone is an idiot or a bad person. It simply means they lack the work skills required to complete a certain aspect of their job.
It’s a shocker to be a witness to workplace incompetence, but there are ways to cope without getting too stressed. In this article, we talk about how you can deal with it, particularly when it’s an incompetent boss instead of an incompetent employee.
Was it Incompetence or Personal Bias?
You will never like everyone you work with. There will always be someone you don’t get along with for one reason or another. However, incompetence is different from personal bias. You should set your dislike and differences aside to discover if incompetence is at play or if you simply don’t like how someone is doing their job.
Regardless of your personal bias, your workplace should have a foundation of respect. This includes anyone you view as incompetent or not good at their job. You don’t know what’s going on in their personal lives that could be affecting their workplace performance, so strive to be patient and understanding in your assessments.
Talk to Someone in Charge
If someone conveys themselves as incompetent, you probably aren’t the only one to see it. Talk to a boss about what you’ve witnessed. Be respectful and express concern. Don’t be malicious in reporting someone for incompetence. It could be that they simply need more training and time to understand the position. Give them the benefit of the doubt.
Offer Your Assistance in Helping Someone Bolster Their Competence
When someone is obviously lacking in skills or confidence in their position, help them where you can. Sometimes someone needs a helping and patient guide to teach them how to better perform at their jobs.
If you aren’t up for the role of mentor, discuss it with your coworkers. Perhaps one of them will be available and able to help. Unless someone is being intentionally incompetent or negligent in the workplace, there’s no reason to berate them or shun them. A little help could mean the world.
Have You Done What You Can? Focus on Your Work and Try to Steer Clear of an Incompetent Person
If you’ve done all you can, then wash your hands of incompetence. There’s a line to draw when someone is intentionally incompetent. The best thing you can do in those cases is to report it and take a step back. Focus on your own work. Unless their incompetence directly affects something that you’re working on, it’s no longer your problem or concern to deal with.
Side note: This doesn’t give you or anyone else leeway to be rude. You can still be respectful and tolerant, even after you’ve washed your hands of a situation.
Don’t Let Their Incompetence Hinder the Development of Your Career
Sometimes an incompetent person will try to stand in the way of their coworkers and employees because it makes them feel more important. Don’t let them hinder your career. There are multiple channels you can go through to report such incompetent, rude behavior.
Side note: While not ideal, changing your job position within a company or finding employment at a better business is always an option. It shouldn’t be your immediate choice, but no one can blame you if the incompetence in your workplace isn’t being addressed. Just remember that there are other options.
Understanding and Patience Goes a Long Way
While it can be tiresome to deal with, there will always be incompetence in a workplace, especially a large business where there are dozens of employees. In a lot of ways, some people are simply incompetent due to lack of knowledge and experience.
As they learn and grow in a position, they become more competent. Your patience and understanding of the situation could go a long way in helping them build their confidence and become more competent as time goes by.
