No. 119 · People · General Thinking
Peter Principle
People tend to be promoted until they reach a job they cannot do well.
In the Almanac
“A joke that came true”, 1969–2018 · “Disney”, 2020–2022
Both stories in full, three ways to use it and where it misleads.
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What is Peter Principle?
The Peter Principle, from Laurence J. Peter's 1969 book, says people in hierarchies keep rising until they land in a role they can't perform well. Organizations reward success in the current job, not suitability for the next one.
How do you use Peter Principle?
Use it by judging candidates on the skills the new role needs, testing roles before you accept them and offering expert career paths outside management. People can grow into roles, so promote thoughtfully and support them well.
When does Peter Principle matter?
Peter Principle is one of the 60 mental models for people, the situations where you ask: Why do people act as they do, and how do I work with them? Within that, it belongs to “Leading people”, alongside Carrot and Stick, Distributive Justice vs Procedural Justice and Golem Effect.
What is an example of Peter Principle?
Two stories show it at work: A joke that came true (1969–2018) and Disney (2020–2022). Both are told in full in The Mental Models Daily Almanac, which has two stories for each of its 365 models.
Which mental models are related to Peter Principle?
Hierarchical Organisation, Generalist vs Specialists and Circle of Competence. Peter Principle itself comes from general thinking.