Why are we promoting incompetence at 3M? The company often puts people in positions that they don't really deserve, and then it becomes apparent that they're unqualified for the job within a matter of months. And nothing is done to correct it! How can this continue to happen over and over again?
9 replies (most recent on top)
3M has been promoting incompetence for a long while now.....Let me correct that for you.
In my opinion, vast majority of people who go into the so called leadership position, meaning management ranks, are not high potentials and in many cases utter failures at the bench level. They have mediocre credentials and their achievements in 3M are also not stellar. They go into management simply because that is the ONLY path to career success these days at 3M, meaning pretty much automatic promotions every few years upto the level of a Director.
Then a few chosen ones, who have the blessings from a Higher God / Goddess in 3M can rise to VP and upper levels.
Hence today's dire situation. None of the executives that I have worked with have grown any kind of business organically, and hence it is very difficult to have any sort of respect for them. Add their utter incompetence to that list and it becomes quite obvious.
A staggering amount of time spent in worthless meetings, making strategies on ppt slides and organizing numerous prioritization meetings will not bring growth .....it is high time to realize that.
Because the senior mgmt does not know what incompetence looks like?
@1yuv+1r9LwhY8. Exactly. It is because in the last 15 years, 3M leaders stopped interacting with customers and their location, learning how their businesses work. 3M used to own the customer in every industry we competed. None of the business or technical people spend meaningful time with any customers other than fill out BS VOC surveys. You can count on one hand how many customer visits my EMD VP has made.
If you want to test competence/incompetence of a USAC senior business manager, watch them at an industry trade show. Can they talk to customers (direct or indirect) regarding product/industry/applications or overall business relevance within any industry? NOT! Although there are a few exceptions, I’ve experienced 25+ years of failure for these senior managers. And it’s only getting worse.
"Not all outside leadership hires are bad."
Absolutely correct!!!
However, it is very bad when all (or almost all) leadership hires are from the outside!
A lot of leaders got up the ladder by not delivering but by making ppt presentations and talking well. Company needs to distinguish between just talkers and people who actually make things happen. Since top leaders got there by not doing much they do not realize the importance of people who deliver. I miss the old generation of leaders. Time to leave the company for sure.
In early 2019 I worked with several fantastic leaders who came from other companies. They brought in new ideas and displayed a level of emotional intelligence our current leaders lacked. One of these great leaders left within a year to go back to his former company. The other leader stayed maybe two years. They did not use consultants, were not passive aggressive and I liked working with them. They were not treated well at 3M by the next level of leadership from what I could tell (maybe out of jealousy?) and I assume realized 3M is a mess. Not all outside leadership hires are bad.
i am with company for 25 years as well. worked in Plant all my life. Seen the best of the company in 90s, but sad to see the deterioration of today's standard of the leaders. can't wait for my retirement in another 2 years time. Many of my colleagues are just waiting out. Nobody is putting in any meaningful work.
I often wonder the same thing, especially after a "Town Hall" or reading any corporate email.
I have been with the 3M for well over 25 years. I have never seen more incompetence amongst the "leadership" than what we are currently experiencing.
3M stopped promoting from within a long time ago and now we only seem to hire incompetent corporate vagabonds.
There is not a leader above JG9 in this entire company. 3M hires incompetent "leaders" and then has to hire consultants to make up for their poor decisions.
I really wanted to stay until I am able retire but it is not looking like I will be able to make it... assuming there is even a 3M left by that time.