Competence Blindness Hits Successful Companies

A phenomenon known as 'competence blindness' has been observed in successful companies, causing them to stop recognizing competence in new hires. This issue is likened to the Mexican cavefish, a species of fish that loses its eyesight after a million years of evolution in caves.

The cavefish's genome is virtually identical to its river-dwelling counterpart, but the environment in the caves has led to the loss of eyesight. Similarly, companies that have achieved success may forget what it took to become successful, leading to a lack of recognition for competence in new hires.

Competence blindness is different from companies that fail because they cling to outdated markets and customers. Instead, it is a result of the company's environment no longer expressing the trait of competence in new hires. This can lead to decades of survival, but also hinder innovation and growth.

Analysts argue that competence blindness can have significant consequences for companies, including a lack of innovation and growth. It is essential for companies to recognize the signs of competence blindness and take steps to address it before it's too late.