We all want to believe we’re working with competent people.
Too often, we confuse competence with confidence, charisma, a polished resume, or how someone shows up in meetings. But competence requires proof.
It has to be demonstrated. That means consistent performance at the level the company needs, under real conditions, and without constant hand-holding or micromanaging.
It’s not harsh. It’s how you build a company that works.
If you want a culture where competence is proven day in and day out:
Define what great work looks like (pace, spec, outcomes).
Make clarity a shared responsibility.
Raise the standard and teach people how to meet it.
Because hope and faith aren’t strategies. Performance is.
PERSPECTIVES
“Power is competence.” — Jordan Peterson
MARK MY WORDS
Competence is one of the most misunderstood qualities in a company. It’s not about potential, and it’s certainly not about whether someone fits in.
It’s about delivery — consistent, reliable, real-world performance that holds up when things get hard.
I’ve led and coached teams long enough to know this: People can sound sharp in meetings and still fall short when it matters. That’s not cynicism. That’s pattern recognition. Great companies are built on proof.
Competence looks like this: someone who consistently gets smart stuff done, leans into or escalates issues, and follows through. They do the Work, own when it misses, and show up better the next time. That’s who you trust. That’s who you promote. That’s how you build a company where competence isn’t assumed. It’s earned.
INSIDE NINETY
Introducing Maz
One of the hardest parts of running a company is setting the right goals — the kind that are clear, strategic, and actually get done.
That’s why we built Maz, Ninety’s AI companion and your partner for smarter goal-setting. Built into Ninety, Maz helps your team write better Rocks, align faster, and execute with clarity every quarter.
In case you missed it, here’s more from Founder’s Framework:
Leading Like a Polymath: When Letting Go Is the Wrong Move
Founders are told to step back as they scale, but letting go too soon can cost a company its soul. In this article, I discuss why the best leaders know when to lean in.
This fierce anthem cuts through the noise with power and precision. It’s about pushing forward with focus, grit, and proof. In a high-performing team, that’s what competence looks like.
