The Antidote to The Peter Principle

The Peter Principle describes a common organisational phenomenon wherein people tend to rise to their level of incompetence. Employees get promoted until they reach a position where they no longer possess the necessary skills and abilities to be efficient and effective. This happens when businesses promote individuals based solely on their performance in their current roles without considering their potential for success in higher positions. And because of this employees find themselves grappling with responsibilities beyond their skill set, resulting in a decline in their performance.

This is a problem for both employees and the company. However, we believe there is an antidote to this issue, and it's called metaskills.

Metaskills go beyond specific technical or functional abilities and focus on the higher-order skills that enable individuals to adapt, learn, and thrive in various situations. These encompass critical thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence, and adaptability. When organisations prioritise developing metaskills, they create a workforce that can navigate the challenges of leadership positions with agility and innovation. They empower individuals to continuously learn and adapt, ensuring that promotions are not just about climbing the corporate ladder but about ascending with the requisite skills and mindset for success at each level.

Explore our flagship programme that develops Metaskills: Hyper Island Executive Leadership Accelerator Programme.