While it’s my goal to try and keep this column as an overall lighthearted, humorous, or otherwise entertaining space for our readers – sometimes events happen that leave an impression on me and I’m prompted to share my experience with our readers.
With over a dozen years in the media field, I’m aware that my knowledge is a bit niche and not something that everyone else has access to even with the internet at almost everyone’s fingertips.
I also know that when I use an umbrella term like “media” some folks don’t understand how many other job-related tasks or skills are just part of the field.
It takes seconds to Google anything and everything from how to reference something in the appropriate Associated Press style, harnessing the basics of Photoshop, or even creating a flyer or advertisement for a special event or sharing information in a visual format.
All of that means that I also know and understand that even with such tools at someone’s disposal, it doesn’t make up for the practical application of said processes or innate talents.
My official title here at the Sentinel is “News Editor” but since we’re family-owned and operated, that’s just one of many hats I wear.
With those hats came a slight learning curve featuring new foundational pillars, rules, tips, and tricks, and the occasional constraints from outside influences or sources.
But, even when I step back and look at it, it’s no different than any other job I’ve had to navigate and learn the ropes for.
And, I suppose, the underlying difference is that as long as it’s a job that I’m interested in doing or that matters to me then I’m going to give it my best attempt.
I’d like to think that such thoughts extend to every adult out in their careers and that it’s part of the realm of “common sense.”
Lately, though, I’m seeing that common sense isn’t so common and that while my eyes are open to seeing the glaring problems others are either blissfully or willfully ignorant to the point of “weaponized incompetence.”
In case you were curious, weaponized incompetence is a poorly executed action or behavior that someone does on purpose, while appearing to do so out of incompetence.
The overall goal of this tactic is to make oneself look like they are incapable of performing an action, therefore removing ownership and accountability for the action being completed – or not completed.
And I get that sometimes incompetence comes from a genuine place of confusion and inability to perform a task at an honest level, but I feel that when people don’t accept the criticism and make a concerted effort to grow or learn something then it’s either a medical condition in the way or someone actively choosing to be incompetent.
The worst part is seeing employers reinforce incompetence and ignorance by not holding employees accountable or choosing to turn a blind eye to a situation in favor of not “dealing” with the added stress – which can be its own weaponized incompetence.
In fact, it’s an ugly cycle that puts an overall strain on quality personnel by making them bear the brunt of the tasks or work and will lead to them burning out much faster than if everyone shared the workload accordingly.
So, maybe I’m just seeing a need for more accountability and transparent communication across the board or at least there could be some Human Resource directors that need to brush up on their workplace rulebook, ethics, or guidelines.
