September 6th 2023.
Are you always going above and beyond? We all know what weaponised incompetence is: when someone does a task badly in order to avoid doing it again. It’s usually in the home when partners or teenagers try to shirk their chores. However, in the workplace, it’s often ignored – or even reinforced – when it comes from a higher-up.
Nobody wants to risk their job by questioning their superiors, which is why the only way to fight back is by weaponising your competence. Karen Lough, head of learning and development at Ciphr, says this could include tasks like “producing reports, training new staff, delegating performance reviews or standing in for them at meetings.”
Ed Johnson, CEO of PushFar, advises taking note of all the tasks you do that go above and beyond, and keeping your receipts. “When it comes to monthly, quarterly or annual appraisals and reviews, there is often the opportunity for employees to put forward what they have done, but so often employees forget to shout about their accomplishments.”
It’s important to remember that overloading staff with under-recognised tasks is bad for the wider business too. Daniela Korn, co-owner and head of employment at Tan Ward, says “when employees feel underappreciated, they can become demotivated and disengaged from their work, negatively impacting morale.”
Luckily, communication is key to solving the issue. Karen suggests speaking “objectively and focusing on fact, not feelings.” She adds that bosses may be trying to help employees “stretch and grow,” but are sometimes getting the balance wrong. It may help to get an extra layer of objectivity from a colleague or someone in your industry.
When it comes to self-promotion, Daniela advises “sharing your accomplishments in a humble and self-assured manner, highlighting the value it adds to the organisation.” Karen adds that appraisals and scheduled performance reviews are ideal for putting forward your case, but if you don’t have regular evaluations, it’s important to keep your emotions in check and schedule a formal chat.
Ultimately, the goal is to be rewarded for your skills and responsibilities. However, if you’re still getting nowhere after repeated efforts, it may be time to consider moving on to a workplace that suits your needs better. Ed suggests “figuring out what is most important to you” and looking at the opportunities available to you.
Whatever the outcome, you’ll know you did your best, knew your worth and put your foot down against being taken for granted. Better still, you may never have to convert a PDF for a senior executive making 10 times your salary ever again.
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