Promoted into Incompetence
Why Good Workers Become Poor Leaders-and How Organizations Can Change That
Report an issue
Tell us what's wrong and we'll take a look.
Thanks – we got it. We'll review and follow up if needed.
Promoted into Incompetence examines a leadership crisis hiding in plain sight: how technically skilled employees often rise to management positions without the training, perspective, or preparation to lead effectively. Drawing on more than three decades of executive and academic experience, Dr. David E. Fraser reveals why competence in one role does not automatically translate into success in another-and what organizations can do to change that.
From government and healthcare to education and the nonprofit sector, Fraser exposes the structural habits that reward technical mastery while neglecting leadership readiness. Through clear analysis, practical frameworks, and field-tested tools, he shows how to rebuild the pipeline for capable, ethical, and self-aware leadership.
This book is both a diagnosis and a guide for action. Leaders, HR professionals, and educators will find strategies for mentoring, performance design, and succession planning that prevent avoidable failure and restore organizational confidence.
The second title in the Fraser Leadership Series, Promoted into Incompetence offers a roadmap for turning misplaced promotions into intentional leadership development-and for transforming competence into true capacity.
David Fraser
David E. Fraser, Ed.D., MPA, is a professor of public and healthcare administration at California State University, East Bay, and a longtime senior executive in county government in California's San Francisco Bay Area.With decades of experience leading initiatives at the intersection of policy, strategy, and public funding, he brings a practitioner-scholar perspective to his teaching, writing, and leadership development work. Through Fraser Leadership Group, he continues to train professionals in grant writing, program development, and cross-sector collaboration.
More by David Fraser
Why Readwise Books?
Readwise Books is an ebook & audiobook platform that automatically logs how much you and your friends read, making it fun and easy to read more. Learn more →