Competence has a cost, but incompetence has a reward.
The irony is that incompetence pays—not in promotion, but in demotion. Not in opportunities, but in missed chances. Not in honor, but in reproach.
The world doesn’t reward effort alone; it rewards results. Talent without training, vision without discipline, and leadership without competence always produce the same outcome — failure dressed in excuses.
THE HIDDEN COST OF INCOMPETENCE
When incompetency rules, these are the “rewards”:
- Loss of Trust – People stop depending on you.
- Missed Opportunities – Doors that should open remain shut.
- Stagnation – No matter the environment, incompetency chains you down.
- Replacement – Someone more competent will always take your place.
- Shame Instead of Honor – Incompetence doesn’t just delay destiny; it diminishes dignity.
As Bishop David Oyedepo once said, “Life is not a game of luck; life is a game of skill.”
COMPETENCE IS A LEADERSHIP CURRENCY
Every great leader—from Nelson Mandela to modern CEOs—earned influence through competence. It’s not age, background, or connections that sustain leadership; it’s the ability to deliver consistent results with integrity.
At Smart Leaders Impact Hub (SLIH), we train leaders to understand that leadership without competence is like wealth without wisdom—it destroys rather than builds.
This is why our programs focus on five dimensions of wealth — spiritual, physical, mental, social, and economic — because a competent leader must balance all.
THE WAY FORWARD
If incompetence pays in loss, competence pays in legacy.
Incompetence rewards you with irrelevance, but competence rewards you with influence.
Incompetence rewards you with regret, but competence rewards you with respect.
Incompetence rewards you with excuses, but competence rewards you with excellence
THE CHOICE IS YOURS.
At SLIH, our focus is “Uniting Minds for Global Impact.”
We believe the next global shift will not be powered by titles, but by competent leaders who solve real problems with real solutions.
REFLECTION:
What has incompetency already cost me — and what will competence unlock for me?
✍️ By Dr. Ananti Smart | Lead Servant, Smart Leaders Impact Hub (SLIH)
#Leadership #Excellence #SmartLeadersImpactHub #Competence
