So, I was talking with my daughter the other day, and she mentioned weaponizing incompetence. My ears perked up, and I said, “Tell me more about that”.
I knew what it meant to do this, but I had never heard the term for it.
It boils down to a person faking incompetence to avoid doing something they don’t want to do. Often, this is used as a manipulation tactic to get someone else to do that thing.
Here are some examples:
- A spouse or partner might say,” I am just an awful cook,” to get out of cooking.
- A co-worker might say something like, “This is your area of expertise. You’re so great at it,” to pass off a task they should be doing.
Where have you seen it in your life?
This can be a sneaky tactic, so here are a few tips for dealing with people who weaponize incompetence:
- Don’t take the bait.
- Talk to them about it. Share how it affects you.
- Set boundaries by letting the person know you aren’t taking on a responsibility that belongs to them. In other words, say no.
Life is good.
Jeff
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