CHAPTER FOUR

Incompetent

Juan Antonio Samaranch

Incompetent Leadership—The leader and at least some followers lack the will or skill (or both) to sustain effective action. With regard to at least one important leadership challenge, they do not create positive change.

INCOMPETENT LEADERS are ubiquitous. Sometimes they are so obviously and extremely incompetent that we wonder how they were able to assume leadership roles in the first place. And sometimes they’re just incompetent enough to interfere with their own best-laid plans to sustain stability or create change.

Leaders are incompetent for various reasons. Some lack experience, education, or expertise. Others lack drive, energy, or the ability to focus. Still others are not clever enough, ...

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