Confidently Incompetent II
Business Pundit's post by Rob May, titled Why The Dunning Kruger Effect Is Ruining Your Business, provides a new perspective on a phenomenon that I blogged about some time ago, that bears repeating:
"Those that are most confident are often the least competent."
Rob May takes this a step further, explaining how the Dunning Kruger Effect explains why most people think they are worth more money than everyone else they work with, even when the evidence is firmly to the contrary. In the absence of concrete performance metrics, many under-performers genuinely believe that their performance is better than their peers in the firm. Even when fixed performance criteria do exist, though, they still often explain their shortcomings away by insisting, sometimes most eloquently, that their under-performance in one area (e.g. low billing / poor client satisfaction / bad interpersonal relationships within the firm) is outweighed by stellar performance in other (usually difficult to measure) areas. The collegial, conflict-averse culture of many law firms (and firms in many other professions too) makes it very difficult for them to even have frank discussions around this topic.
This can be a real problem where the end result is that those that contribute most to the firm find themselves under-appreciated and the "confidently incompetent" are disproportionately rewarded. Inevitably, resentment sets in.
What to do about it? There are a few pointers in my previous post on this topic, courtesy of the Department of Psychology at Cornell University. Rob adds these three:
1. Use as many measurable standards of performance as possible. Even idiots have a difficult time refuting concrete performance goals.
2. Encourage dissension and debate. This is tough, because if this is not handled properly, it can build a culture of negativity and risk aversion. Your goal shouldn't be to avoid risk, just to expose and understand it.
3. Show confidence in your best employees, even when they don't have confidence in themselves.
If any of this resonates with you then, whatever you do, please don't wait until you are staring at the letter of resignation from one of your under-appreciated star performers before you grasp this nettle.
Manupatra is presenting a Seminar on Rubric of the New Competition Law Regime in India- Challenges and the Path Forward. All the law professionals interested in corporate law and competition law are cordially invited to be a part of the seminar. Seminar will be conducted at Yamuna Hall, Shangri-la Hotel, New Delhi on 12th January 2008 between 9:30 am to 5 pm.
Get details at http://www.manupatra.com/seminar