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The Peter Principle states that employees tend to rise to their level of incompetence. Originally the title of a humorous treatise by Laurence J. Peter, a professor of education at the University of Southern California, and freelancer Raymond Hull, the Peter Principle has become part of the day-to-day vernacular. The Peter Principle is often applied as an insult to the managers and executives it describes, but it also has a grain of truth.

Even in more generalized situations (not the corporate office), the Peter Principle is at work. We tend to use something that works in progressively more complex or demanding situations until it stops working. Let's say you spill a glass of water. You grab a paper towel to wipe up the liquid. In the act of sopping up the mess, you knock over yet another beverage. You will probably keep using that same paper towel until it is no longer useful. People are often treated in much the same way in the world of work.

If your manager appears to be a dimwit, that may not be necessarily so (unless he is related to the company owner, of course!). It could simply mean that he was a star at every other level of work and has now finally met his level of incompetence. The company will push performers until they are no longer useful or able to perform. A promotion offer is always exciting and a vote of confidence, but it can turn into a nightmare if you are jumping into a situation that is over your head.

It's up to the individual to understand and honestly evaluate his or skill sets before accepting an offer for a promotion, but in today's society, it's difficult for people to turn down lucrative promotions. It's hard to be happy with one's self when society tells us we are meaningless if we aren't striving for the brass ring, bringing home the big bucks, and trampling on anyone else who gets in our way. Our society puts a premium on people who are well known and famous. We are conditioned, to a degree, to take the next step up the corporate ladder. If you are happy with yourself and your status in a lower-level position, you may be perceived as lazy or stupid. If we can become more honest with ourselves and break free from the fear of "what will everybody else think," then we can keep ourselves safe from becoming examples of the Peter Principle.

So, the next time you think about slamming your boss with a quip about the Peter Principle, take pity . . . and take heed. You may become the butt of someone elses joke after your next promotion.

Learn more about this author, Stacy Jackson.
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