Weaponised incompetence

I’m going to keep this one short and sweet.

The co-worker that tells you “I’m useless at powerpoint, can you put the slide together”, “I have terrible handwriting, nobody will be able to read my notes, can you take them?”.

The boyfriend, husband, wife, girlfriend, spouse, partner that empties the dishwasher and puts the spoons back in the knife holder section and the knives back in the spoon holder section. That dresses the kids in the morning with a chaotic result that gives more “Circus” than `’Vivienne Westwood”. And all this met with a explanation of “I didn’t know they had specific holders and why does it matter anyway” or “I just don’t see or care about colors or pattenrs the same way you do.”

This is bullshit.

This is indifference.

Indifference to the daily jobs and tasks that make businesses run smoothly, that make families run smoothly. This is weaponised incompetence and you must be aware of it and how much of a burden it can be on you.

My advice, take accountability for your own work. When its your meeting, you schedule the sessions, you circulate the actions, you do the powerpoint.

When it’s not yours to be accountable for - do not take it on. A simple, “I wont have the bandwidth for that” or “I won’t be doing that because I’m not the subject matter expert in this field so I won’t be inserting myself in that position.”

Whilst I personally fear how the development of AI has the potential to obliterate human connection even more than social media has, even I will admit and can see the power of co-pilot in the work place and how much of a game changer it is. No need for the note taking power struggle - just turn on co-pilot.

As for weaponsied incompetence in the home? That’s for you and your partner to address in your own way, my friend. Every household runs differently. My only hope is that if it’s happening to you, and you’re in such a cycle that you don’t even realise it for what it is, you now have a word for it. It’s weaponised incompetence.

In non technical terms - it’s bullshit. And should be treated as such.