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Don’t Promote Mediocrity

Like Doctor Frankenstein, some employers create their own problem employees.

They promote people to jobs for which they lack the credentials and experience. And they look the other way when resentment builds among employees who have to work harder to make up for the new boss’s incompetence.

The Frankenstein employee rises through the ranks on the strength of his or her soft skills. They have the gift of gab and they are superb networkers.

In an online poll, HR.BLR.com asked human-resource managers why they were forced to hire someone they wouldn’t have otherwise considered. Thirty-four percent cited cronyism, by far the most prevalent reason.

Mediocrity begets mediocrity. If a manager can get ahead by doing minimal work, other employees may wonder why they should exert themselves. And certainly, the manager, with zero credibility, won’t be able to persuade them to do otherwise.

Doctor Frankenstein created a life, but an awful one for others. An office Frankenstein isn’t much better.