Wednesday, July 13, 2011

21 Reasons Why Organizations Keep Idiots


  1. Those who could make the firing decision have little contact with the individual's true work product.

  2. They have low expectations.

  3. They are waiting for someone to complain.

  4. They believe they are the only ones who see the ineptitude.

  5. They don't want to be judgmental.

  6. They see only the work that is done reasonably well.

  7. They don't care so long as the performance doesn't affect them.

  8. There is a family connection.

  9. There is a powerful protector.

  10. They are afraid of a lawsuit.

  11. They are concerned that the replacement might not be much better.

  12. They like the person.

  13. The person looks the part and that, to them, is sufficient.

  14. The person does one thing very well and they discount the importance of everything else.

  15. There are community or client ties that could be jeopardized.

  16. The termination process is too cumbersome.

  17. Procrastination.

  18. Priorities are focused elsewhere.

  19. Previous efforts failed.

  20. Taking action with that person would require taking action with other people.

  21. The person really isn't an idiot.

4 comments:

John said...

#11 is really important. Good idiots are hard to come by. And some jobs are such that only an idiot will stay put.

Dan in Philly said...

How about: The job that person is doing really can be done by an idiot (at least can be done by a high functioning one)? Hey, someone has to do that kind of work, and after all, what is the old line from "How to Succeed in Business Without really Trying?"

"One man may seem incompetent,
Another not make sense,
While others look like quite a waste
Of company expense.

"They need a brother's leadership,
So please don't do them in.
Remember mediocrity
Is not a mortal sin. "

John said...

Reminds me of a John Adams quote.

"In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress."

Bob said...

The world is full of idiots, if they were smarter they would form their own minority.......