Finally, there is some logic as to why so many incompetent people are promoted. It is a simple process, really.

Take one individual lacking the technical skills to do a job. He is so useless that others just do the tasks because it is quicker and easier; he manages to pass the buck to everyone around him. Senior managers spot the guy as someone who really knows how to delegate; he is seen as a potential ‘people leader’, skilled in motivating others and achieving targets set for him.

In his new role, the newly promoted incompetent can now legitimately delegate everything (including people issues) to those beneath him and, importantly, is not expected to understand their job skills. The people working for him now have more work piled on them as they ‘carry’ their manager and are denied any opportunity to demonstrate their own genuine managerial abilities.

In their conscientiousness, or through fear of looking like an idiot in front of senior managers, and because blame only moves downhill, the ‘team’ deliver against the tasks set. The manager, with access to meetings with senior managers and denying their team a voice, claims the credit for delivering their projects.

Their skills in leading people are duly recognised by further promotions. Meanwhile, those who are competent at doing their job are left where they are because moving them out of that role will create a scenario in which the business may suffer, but make sure that carrots about future promotion and bonuses are dangled in front of them to keep them performing. Needless to say, these carrots are dangled in front of the donkey and always remain just out of reach.

It is often much easier and cheaper for a business to reward incompetence – because skilled people will continue to do what they do – be productive.