ANSWERS: 4
  • That old saying is called The Peter Principle and it isn't that old. Dr. Laurence J. Peter and Raymond Hull came up with it only in 1968. It states: "In a Hierarchy Every Employee Tends to Rise to His Level of Incompetence."
  • Not all of them, not all of the time..fortunately for those of us who work for them. Anyone who would promote someone who couldn't do the job is him/herself incompetent or maybe is sleeping with that person..or is related somehow...you know, the wife of the boss has this nephew..need I say more? :)
  • In 20 years of working for a major British bank, I would say this is true a lot of the time, but there are those to whom it doesn't apply - it's just that they're in the minority.
  • That's another way of saying it, too. It's a matter of "pokitics" - "Follow the Leader" and being a "Yes" person. BUT there's a point when the followers become the leaders. Do they do the same? I think it's a matter of ethics and many other facotrs. It doesn't make any difference about the reputation a business has, an assistant manager does the exact same things he or she was trained to do, has the exact same duties and has the exact same responsibilities as any manager and, at times, even the owner. You have to ACT - NOT react! Your eyes, ears, taste, smell, physical feelings and "gut" feelings ARE YOUR BEST friends! Why? Because when the other managers and the owner are not around, it's up to Y-O-U- YOU - to be THEIR eyes, ears and voice. You are responsible for the smooth operation of that business! Everything: From the parking lot to the cleaning of the toilets, refrigeration. Checking-in deliveries. Making sure ALL the work is being worked on or is done. Each member of the staff is properly doing his or her job. EVERYONE is properly dressed. EVERYTHING is clean or in the process of being cleaned. When someone doesn't come-in, it's up to you to get that person's job covered - "juggling" or "jockeying" staff to get those jobs done. Even when it means you have to do that work or clean the toilets. YOU MUST check with the customers and clients to see how everything is. Are each customer's needs being met? YOU have to interact with the customers. Talk to them. They're wonderful and great people! They're in YOUR place, helping to pay YOUR salary and helping to pay the expenses and bills of every person working there. THE FIRST thing you do is do a quick tour of the inside and outside of the business. THE NUMBER 1 Q: "What's wrong?" #2 Q: Who can do it? #3 Q: How quickly can it be done so the business ALWAYS shows its BEST light AND our customers are not inconvenienced in any way? #4 Q: Did I follow-up/follow through to make sure it got done? THEN go into the office to check the manager's log/e-mail to see what the other managers or owner is doing and how the operation is doing for that day. COUNT ALL THAT MONEY! IT'S YOUR WATCH! IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY! Who is training or working with whom? AND there's A WHOLE LOT MORE! It's my observation and experience: 1. No one gets any where by working hard. You have to work hard AND smart. 2. Don't "try" BUT DO your very best to have as much integrity as you possibly can. 3. Take charge and lead by example. If you're younger than I am, I'll give you some advice which may change your life. This is multi-faceted. "Climbing" the social and corporate ladder doesn’t have a single path or answer. It’s a combination of many characteristics. Here are my suggestions to being successful on the job as well as being a successful person: 1] Having and keeping a positive mental attitude. 2] Integrity - being honest with yourself as well as with and to all others. NO kickbacks or stealing. This, above all else: “To thine own self, be true! And it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.” William Shakespeare 3] Having an open mind. 4] Cleanliness. Period. 5] The ability to learn from others AND teaching still others. 6] Having the ability to make decisions and/or decide AND STICKING with that decision. If and when someone asks “why?” a certain procedure was done (or wasn't done) a certain way, you must be able to fully explain your reasoning behind that decision. 7A] The ability to properly communicate: following directions and the orders others may give. Properly reading, writing and speaking. 7B] Knowing what to do and how to do it. 7C] Doing the job at-hand to the best of your ability. When there are questions, asking the questions. There’s no such thing as a stupid question. The ONLY stupid question is the question NOT asked. 8] Being part of the overall team. NO job is too small. When it means picking-up that mop [or cleaning the bathrooms and/or other menial tasks] to lend a hand - you do it - without bragging or complaining. That absolutely horrible, miserable and selfish expression, “That‘s not my job.” DOES NOT exist. 9] On occasion, staying over to help the following shift OR coming in earlier AND going to work to help the overall operation. AND THEN there‘s that expression: "There is no "I" in "TEAM". 10] Having a sense of humor. 11] Being kind and courteous to others. As a footnote: AND STILL keep your wits about you - without “throwing”/having temper tantrums. As a matter of fact: Isn’t it true any, many or all of the above can be divided into sub-categories? THE FINAL SUGGESTION: Find a worthy charity AND on a regular, dependable basis - just as though it was a second job - do volunteer work for that charity. "The powers that be" - the folks you're looking to "rub elbows with" and get to know, are those ladies and gentlemen doing volunteer work at hospitals, nursing homes, worthy charities and causes. When you do volunteer work - on a consistent, dependable basis - your "climb, up the social ladder" as well as the " climb up the corporate ladder" could be greatly shortened and you could be recognized A WHOLE LOT SOONER. Thanks for asking your Q! I enjoyed answering it! VTY, Ron Berue Yes, that is my real last name! Sources: : My wonderful family! Graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, New Haven, CT campus. Was in the Food and Beverage business over 26 years. In the real estate business over 34 years in Pennsylvania. THE ABSOLUTE BEST, MOST WONDERFUL real estate investment group in the world, which I was very proud to be a member of! Was in the air freight business for 8 years. Trading stocks and options more than 3 years. TWO [2] of THE ABSOLUTE BEST, MOST wonderful trading groups in the world, which I am most proud to be a member of! My terrific teachers, instructors, [rpfessors, mentors and coaches! On a regular, dependable basis, I volunteer at Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. "THE University of Hard Knocks" also known as ("a/k/a") "life's valuable lessons"

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