Description

In Episode 9, John Graci tackles a leadership challenge that is far more common than most leaders admit: weaponized incompetence. When employees intentionally underperform, delay, or “play dumb,” the leader steps in and does the work for them.

John opens the episode with a relatable home-life example: folding laundry poorly so your spouse takes over, or mowing the lawn with less care so someone else finishes the job. The same behavior shows up in the workplace, but with far greater consequences.

In this episode, John breaks down the real reason weaponized incompetence thrives.

Key lessons in this episode:

• Leaders must confront behavior, not the person.
• Accountability doesn’t require anger, just clarity and consistency.
• Enabling poor performance today guarantees more of it tomorrow.
• Questions like “What support do you need from me to complete this efficiently?” create accountability without confrontation.
• HR and senior leaders must invest in leadership development so supervisors have the tools to handle these situations professionally.
• Leaders are made, not born, and handling weaponized incompetence is a learned skill.

Resources & Links:

• John's Digital Courses for Team Leads, Managers, and Supervisors
• John's Website
• Connect with John on Linkedin

If you’re a leader, HR professional, or manager looking for no-nonsense strategies to keep your team engaged and high-performing, this episode is packed with insights you can use right away.