FOCUSING ON competency could be bad for your career

One of the most common frustrations I hear from my mentees is about the loudest voice in the room often getting all the recognition and rewards, while they quietly demonstrate competency and expect that to be enough. And let’s be honest: in these scenarios, the loudest voice tends to be white, male, and unapologetically bold.

My mentees often expect me to say, “Keep being competent, and eventually, it’ll pay off.” They’re surprised when I tell them, “To hell with competency. Competency alone will not get you where you need to be.”

Now, don’t get me wrong—do you need to be competent? Absolutely. You might even have to be twice as competent, especially in environments where you are marginalized. But that’s only part of the equation. Competency is the foundation, not the whole structure.

THE COMPETENCY TRAP

If your career strategy is solely focused on proving your competency, you will quickly find yourself being the go-to person for solving administrative or tactical problems, but rarely the person invited to lead strategic initiatives. The truth is, the person seen as just competent is often boxed into roles where they are relied on for their work ethic, reliability, and attention to detail—but not for their bold ideas or leadership.

And here’s the kicker: those who are "loud" in the room, who dare to speak up, and sometimes risk being wrong? They’re the ones getting the visibility. They’re the ones who get to move the needle on the company’s goals and initiatives.

TAKE THE RISK

Before you start complaining about the loudest voice in the room always being rewarded, consider that they’re the ones willing to take risks. They’re willing to speak up in a room full of people and risk looking dumb or being wrong. In doing so, they put themselves at the forefront of conversations, of strategies, and of decisions.

While you're focused on being meticulously competent and waiting for instructions, they’re taking charge, putting their ideas out there, and naturally getting more visibility. That visibility is what leads to more opportunities and, ultimately, the promotions and recognition that feel out of reach when you stay in the safe corner of competency.

COMPETENCY + COURAGE = LEADERSHIP

So, what’s the takeaway here? Competency is necessary, but it’s not sufficient. To advance, you need to add courage to the mix—courage to speak up, courage to take risks, and courage to lead even when you're unsure. Leadership isn't about always having the right answer; it’s about moving forward, taking ownership, and making things happen.

I’ve had to speak up when it was uncomfortable. I’ve had to fight for my ideas. I’ve had to risk looking foolish in front of a room full of people to get my point across. It’s not easy, but it’s necessary if you want to go beyond being “the competent one” and start being seen as a leader.

Step Out of the Competency Corner

It’s time to step out of the competency corner and get in the ring. Yes, you need to know your stuff. Yes, you need to be good at your job. But you also need to be willing to fight for your ideas, take risks, and command the room. The loudest voice in the room isn’t always right, but they’re visible. And visibility is half the battle.

So, ask yourself: Are you playing it too safe in the competency corner? If so, it’s time to shift your focus. Take a risk. Speak up. Lead the charge.