Promoted into Incompetence: Why Good Workers Become Poor Leaders—and How Organizations Can Change That

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Promoted into Incompetence confronts a leadership crisis hiding in plain sight: how technically skilled employees often rise to management positions without the preparation, perspective, or training to lead effectively.

Drawing on more than thirty years 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 public agencies and hospitals to universities and nonprofits, Promoted into Incompetence examines the systems that reward technical mastery while neglecting leadership readiness.

Through clear analysis, practical frameworks, and field-tested tools, the book provides a roadmap for rebuilding leadership pipelines that cultivate ethical, capable, and self-aware leaders. It’s both a diagnosis and a guide for action—showing how organizations can transform misplaced promotions into intentional leadership development and restore organizational confidence.

From city halls and hospitals to classrooms and boardrooms, this book speaks to leaders across every sector who are striving to bridge the gap between technical mastery and leadership readiness. Practical frameworks, real-world insights, and ethical guidance make Promoted into Incompetence an essential resource for executives, HR professionals, and educators committed to building capable, confident, and mission-driven teams.

Sarah Chen, RN, MSN, NEA-BC, Director of Nursing Operations

"Dr. Fraser’s work is a long-overdue intervention for the healthcare sector. We’ve spent decades promoting our finest clinicians into management roles only to watch them struggle with the 'Identity Dissonance' of moving from the bedside to the boardroom. Promoted into Incompetence offers a lifeline, specifically the 'Leading and Lagging Indicators' dashboard, which helps leaders identify burnout and operational friction before they compromise patient care. This is an essential blueprint for building a 'Readiness Culture' that protects both our staff and the communities we serve."

Lyndon Johnson, MPA, Police Lieutenant

"In public safety, we often promote our best 'doers' and expect them to instinctively know how to lead—a dangerous assumption that Dr. Fraser correctly identifies as 'manufactured incompetence'. This book perfectly captures the 'Identity Dissonance' of the peer-to-boss transition and provides the 'long-distance muscles' required to navigate high-stakes conflict and budget trade-offs. The 'Back-of-the-Envelope Cost Calculator' alone is worth the price of admission, proving that the cost of leadership neglect is far higher than the cost of preparation. Every new supervisor should have a copy of this on their desk on Day One."

Andrea Ross, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor, Public Affairs

"Dr. Fraser has provided the definitive answer to the 'Peter Principle' for the modern era. While many graduate programs focus on the why of policy, Promoted into Incompetence finally addresses the how of leadership readiness. The 'Leadership Alignment Project' is a masterclass in bridging the curriculum-to-practice gap, offering students and faculty a rigorous framework for ethical stewardship. This isn't just a textbook; it’s an essential guide for ensuring our future public servants don't just understand policy, but are equipped to lead the people who implement it."

Promoted into Incompetence continues the Fraser Leadership Series, following the widely adopted Grantcraft: The Practitioner’s Guide to Strategic Funding for Public Service, Healthcare, and the Nonprofit Sector. Grantcraft is not widely available in public and university libraries, and has also been adopted as a text for graduate level grant

The series bridges the theory and practice of leadership across government, healthcare, and nonprofit contexts—providing pragmatic tools for those who lead in service of the public good.

Promoted into Incompetence is distributed through Ingram with standard wholesale terms and is fully returnable, making it available to independent bookstores, libraries, and institutional buyers worldwide.

ISBNs for Ordering

• Hardcover: 979-8-9936905-2-0
• Paperback: 979-8-9936905-3-7
• Library / Institutional eBook: 979-8-9936905-5-1

Faculty & Organizational Evaluation Copies

Evaluation copies are available for instructors, executive education programs, and organizations considering adoption for coursework, leadership development, or training initiatives.

To request an evaluation copy, please email publications@fraserleadership.com and include your name, institution or organization, role, course or program title (if applicable), anticipated enrollment or audience size, and planned term of use.

For bulk, institutional, or professional development orders, please contact publications@fraserleadership.com.