# A Letter to Incompetent Leaders By:: [[Brian Heath]] 2022-12-08 Dear Incompetent Leader, We are writing you this letter without the hope that you'll read it or take action. In fact, if you do read it, you'll probably think this letter is not for you or about you. But it is. We've been silent long enough, and part of moving forward is authentically speaking our truth. Let us begin by saying we acknowledge your existence and that many of your actions were likely done with good intentions. However, we also acknowledge that you likely have higher rates of psychopathy than the rest of us. It's ok - we get it and don't blame you. The current work and culture hierarchy incentivizes those who are selfish, ruthless, cunning, quick-witted, calculating, charismatic, manipulative, and emotionless. Yet, this is no excuse for your actions. You are proportionally accountable for every one of them, as are we. Unfortunately, you are already rationalizing, gathering data, and formulating arguments as to why this is not the case. We've seen it before and accept it for what it is. We don't expect you to change. Many people believe, yourself included, that you got to where you are because you are smarter, faster, and better than the rest. In some cases, this may be true, but it is statistically speaking more likely that you were in the right place at the right time. You got lucky. Your position and life are barely a blip in the never-ending universe - a roll of the dice. Can you not imagine someone who would do your job better? Surely, one human was, is, or will be innately better and more talented than you. Unfortunately, they might have lived at the wrong time, were born the wrong sex, got randomly hit by a bus, or their youngest child is battling cancer. We fail to see how important luck is in our success, so we attribute success to being better. This is hardly the case. Leaders are just as dumb and smart as everyone else. Do you think you are smarter than everyone else? Even if it is so, do you think it is a good thing to believe that you are smarter or better than everyone else? Do you not bleed like everyone else? Do you see now why you are incompetent? Probably not - it's not in your nature. We've seen it before and accept it for what it is. We don't expect you to change. We expect nothing from you, but it would be nice if you strived to be just a little bit better. In the meantime, we'll work and toil to find a better way forward for humanity. This letter is not for you, but for us - the people striving to be better leaders and humans even in the midst of all our flaws, failed systems, and uncertainty. We do this by looking deep within ourselves and how we were built not as individuals but as highly interconnected people and systems. You fail to see this, Incompetent Leader. You think you have it figured out, but no one does. Kindest Regards, -Your humble, obedient, and expendable Employees #### Related Items [[Leadership]] [[Business]] [[Statistics]] [[Authenticity]] [[Self-Actualization]] [[Management]] [[An Email Response to All Employees]]