27 Competence or Numero uno?

The Eagle and the roosters: Once there were two roosters in a farm yard who fought to decide who should be the master of the farm yard. The fight was over when the loser ran away and huddled in a corner. The victor flew up to the top of the haystack and crowed to the world that he was the master. An eagle spotted him from above, dived on him and carried him off. The other rooster came out and ruled the roost.

There were two professors in an institution who used all their energies in proving that one was senior to the other. Finally, one professor was designated as the official head of the institute and the other relegated to the background. However, the joy was short lived for the numero uno as he was promoted and transferred to an administrative post at the centre. The second professor took charge of the institute while the senior one was soon lost in a maze of red-tape.

Comments

The 'Numero uno' game is played out in corporate practice, in research institutions and in academic circles. Ego problems, litigations, fights for seniority, etc., interfere with their main function as health professionals. Many institutions, hospitals and colleges become dysfunctional because of such bickering among the elite.

The 'Peter principle' states that, in a hierarchy, the individual rises further to reach his/her level of incompetence. To remain a competent worker, he/she should stay put at the most competent level of functioning and refuse the seductive offers of promotion or

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transfer (Peter L, 1969). This calls for a unique combination of contentment, self-esteem and self-realisation. It is indeed quite rare! The result is that many competent and respected health professionals end as weak and ineffective administrators. It is a tragic loss of professional talent. Human resource managers ought to follow the 'Peter prescription' to avoid such a loss of professional talent.

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