Latest news with #competence
Forbes
3 days ago
- Science
- Forbes
In The AI Age, Even Honest Workers May Face A 'Competence Penalty'
Workers who are using AI to do their job are rated as less competent than those who are not, even if the AI users are transparent about their methods, and even if the quality of the work done with AI is identical to the quality of that done without, new research suggests. Four academics, from King's Business School in London, Peking University, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and University of Hong Kong conducted an experiment in which they got 1,026 engineers to evaluate a Python code snippet that was written by another engineer—either with or without help from AI. In every case the code itself was identical; only the described method of creation differed from sample to sample. Yet when reviewing engineers believed that an engineer had used AI to write the code, they rated that engineer's competence an average of 9% lower. Perhaps even more striking: this competence penalty was more than twice as harsh for female engineers than it was for male engineers. Indeed, the women in the study faced a 13% reduction compared to the 6% reduction suffered by their male counterparts. 'When reviewers thought a woman had used AI to write code,' the researchers explained in the Harvard Business Review, 'they questioned her fundamental abilities far more than when reviewing the same AI-assisted code from a man.' The penalties also varied significantly depending on the evaluator. Engineers who had not adopted AI themselves were the harshest critics—especially male non-adopters evaluating female engineers. In those cases, they penalized women 26% more than men for the exact same AI usage. Reflecting on their findings, the researchers noted that they reveal a 'hidden tax' on AI adoption. 'What looks like simple reluctance to use new tools actually reflects rational self-preservation. The true cost extends far beyond lost productivity—although productivity losses alone can also be substantial,' they wrote. It also casts a fresh light on the gender gaps that permeate the evolving workforce—from trust to perceived competency—and underscores the risks of new technologies exacerbating existing inequalities, such as pay gaps.
BBC News
08-08-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Staffordshire Reform has to prove it's competent
The leader of a Reform UK-led council says the party needs to prove it's competent enough to run local Cooper, leader of Staffordshire County Council, said the first 100 days of Reform's control over the authority had seen it begin "changing perceptions" and getting on with the party won power from the Conservatives during the local elections on 1 May, winning 49 out of 62 seats with 41% of the Phillip White, leader of the Conservative opposition on the authority, said Reform had wasted its first 100 days. Decisions made since Reform's victory included stopping non-essential roadworks in parts of Stafford and not spending £4.5m of government money on electric vehicle charging council also said it was spending almost £14,000 on a new role to improve special needs education in the county."We have to prove to people we are competent," Cooper told BBC Radio said many people told the party after they came into power that they "did not know how to run things" and had no history in local government."We're changing that perception," he added. "We have great projects we are in the process of delivering and finding the money for."He said they had "lots of great things" in the pipeline but would not confirm what they were. 'A 'do-nothing' council' White told BBC Radio Stoke "very little had happened" in the first 100 days of Reform's administration."Some people have been calling Staffordshire County Council a 'do-nothing council' over the last few months," he added."It's really worrying, without another council meeting until October, that it's actually true. First 100 days - there's actually not a lot to write home about."Reform UK leader Nigel Farage previously said it would send an Elon Musk-style Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) team into local authorities it controls to assess "wasteful spending".It was said in response to him being questioned about the county council having to pay an estimated £27,000 for a by-election after Councillor Wayne Titley stepped down from his Gnosall and Eccleshall seat, just two weeks after he was contest, held on 17 July, was won by Conservative candidate Jeremy Pert, with Reform coming in third place behind the Green previously defended the cost and said he would not "take any lectures from other parties". Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
17 ‘Nice' Gestures That Are Secretly Signs Of Disrespect
Sometimes, what appears to be a thoughtful gesture is, in reality, a subtle form of disrespect. These behaviors can masquerade as kindness, but they often leave you feeling belittled, undermined, or patronized. Upon examining the intention behind them, they reveal more about control and condescension than genuine care. Here are 17 'nice' gestures that, upon closer inspection, are really thinly veiled displays of disrespect. Offering advice without being asked may appear helpful, but it often communicates a lack of confidence in the other person's judgment. It subtly implies that you believe you know better, even when no guidance was requested. According to Psychology Today, unsolicited advice often stems from a desire to assert superiority rather than a genuine intention to help. It shifts the focus from support to control, making the recipient feel incapable. True respect involves listening, not assuming others need fixing. When someone habitually offers advice you didn't seek, it undermines your autonomy. It's less about collaboration and more about authority. These individuals often prioritize their need to feel useful over their need to feel respected. The message beneath their words is clear: they don't trust your competence. That is not kindness—it's condescension wrapped in concern. Offering help without being asked can seem generous at first glance. However, it often implies that you can't handle things on your own. Instead of empowering you, it reinforces the idea that you're incapable or incompetent. While some gestures are sincere, unsolicited help often masks a need to feel superior. It subtly shifts the power dynamic in their favor, not yours. This behavior undermines confidence under the guise of kindness. It signals doubt about your abilities, whether intended or not. Even small actions, such as 'Let me just take care of that for you,' can erode self-trust. Support should be about respect, not control. Real kindness honors your independence, not questions it. Correcting small mistakes can seem helpful, but it often reveals a deeper need to assert intellectual dominance. These corrections rarely enhance the conversation; instead, they diminish confidence and spotlight flaws unnecessarily. Research from the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology shows that constant correction often serves to boost the corrector's ego rather than improve outcomes. It fosters insecurity while feeding their desire to appear knowledgeable. The message is less about precision and more about power. When every minor slip is met with scrutiny, it's exhausting. It suggests your thoughts aren't valid unless they're perfect. These individuals use nitpicking as a subtle form of control. Their fixation on details overshadows any genuine connection. It's less about accuracy and more about maintaining authority. 'Jokes' that highlight your insecurities often disguise deeper criticism. What appears to be lighthearted teasing is often a calculated dig at your confidence. These comments keep you off-balance while the joker hides behind humor. They minimize the impact by brushing it off as playful banter, leaving you confused and defensive. It's not about laughter—it's about dominance masked as wit. This behavior gradually erodes self-esteem over time. It weaponizes humor to create a power imbalance. Instead of building a connection, these jokes erode trust. True humor uplifts, not undermines. When laughter comes at your expense, it's no longer harmless. Lavishing praise on basic accomplishments may appear complimentary, but it often carries a patronizing undertone. Overpraising simple tasks suggests low expectations and subtly questions your competence. Experts at the Harvard Business Review note that excessive praise, particularly for routine achievements, can undermine confidence rather than inspire it. It's less about encouragement and more about superiority cloaked in compliments. Praise should recognize growth, not patronize effort. These comments feel hollow and insincere. They diminish real accomplishments by fixating on the obvious. Rather than uplifting, they condescend under the guise of kindness. The recipient walks away questioning whether the praise was genuine. True recognition honors substance, not simplicity. Interruptions—even well-meaning ones—undermine communication. Jumping in to agree might seem supportive, but it often signals impatience rather than attentiveness. It shifts the focus from listening to speaking, subtly asserting dominance in the conversation. These interruptions suggest your words need validation to carry weight. Instead of encouraging dialogue, they center themselves. Support doesn't require stealing the spotlight. Genuine affirmation allows space for others to finish. Interrupting masks a desire to be heard, not to hear. Respectful communication involves patience, not eagerness to interject. Agreement means more when it follows attentiveness. Backhanded compliments may seem flattering, but they often carry hidden insults. Phrases like 'You're so brave for wearing that' mask judgment behind a thin veneer of praise. These comments create confusion and discomfort, leaving you unsure whether to feel appreciated or offended. According to clinical psychologist Dr. Ramani Durvasula, backhanded compliments are a hallmark of subtle manipulation meant to assert superiority. They diminish while pretending to uplift, cloaking criticism in politeness. These remarks erode confidence under the guise of admiration. They highlight differences rather than celebrate them. Instead of building a connection, they foster insecurity. Kindness doesn't leave you second-guessing its intent. Real compliments don't require translation. Chronic lateness might be brushed off as harmless, but it sends a loud message about priorities. Repeatedly keeping others waiting suggests their time holds less value than yours. It's a passive way of asserting dominance by controlling when things begin. The unspoken message is clear: 'I'll arrive when I'm ready, and you'll adjust.' Over time, this behavior erodes respect and undermines trust. Punctuality is a sign of consideration, not just time management. When someone repeatedly dismisses this, they disrespect more than a schedule—they dismiss you. It's less about poor planning and more about hierarchy. Respect honors both presence and time equally. Showing up late speaks volumes, even without words. When someone insists on showing you how to do something you've clearly mastered, it's not about support—it's about control. This gesture may come cloaked in kindness, but it underestimates your abilities. It's a quiet declaration of superiority, framed as helpfulness. Their assumption isn't rooted in concern but in condescension. Teaching unsolicited often reveals more about their insecurities than your competencies. Respect means recognizing capability without assumption. Repeating instructions where none are needed insults intelligence. It's a subtle way of keeping you small while they feel important. Real guidance is offered when asked, not imposed. Confidence doesn't seek opportunities to patronize. Over-apologizing might appear humble, but it often manipulates the emotional tone of a conversation. Excessive 'sorries' draw attention to the apologizer's feelings rather than the issue at hand. It shifts responsibility, forcing others to take on a caretaking role. Instead of addressing problems, it becomes about soothing their guilt. Repeated apologies mask insecurity as politeness, redirecting focus and control. This habit subtly derails communication under the guise of sensitivity. True accountability doesn't seek validation with every breath. Constant apologies diminish the weight of genuine regret. They create an imbalance, demanding reassurance rather than fostering resolution. Respectful exchanges require confidence, not constant self-flagellation. A gift should symbolize generosity, not obligation. When someone offers you something only to leverage it later, that 'kindness' morphs into manipulation. It becomes currency for future favors, turning appreciation into indebtedness. Beneath the wrapping lies control, not thoughtfulness. These gestures aren't about giving—they're about gaining power. Authentic generosity asks for nothing in return. Manipulative gifting ensnares recipients in unseen expectations. Gratitude shouldn't carry the weight of repayment. Gifts should close circles, not open debts. Respect leaves no strings attached. A genuine compliment uplifts without an agenda. When praise is a fishing expedition for validation, its sincerity crumbles. These faux-flattering remarks seek reciprocity, not connection. They position you as an audience, not a participant, in mutual respect. It's less about recognizing others and more about propping up their ego. Kind words offered in the hope of receiving reflect insecurity, not admiration. True appreciation expects nothing in return. Flattery designed to extract compliments reduces meaningful interaction to a transaction. Respect celebrates without anticipation of applause. An authentic connection doesn't need mirrored praise to hold value. Kindness turns sour when it's weaponized for recognition. Helping someone shouldn't require an audience or applause. When favors become stories retold for praise, they shift from generosity to ego-boosting. What began as supportive morphs into self-promotion. The narrative centers on their virtue, not your gratitude. True kindness doesn't demand acknowledgment. Performing good deeds for clout reveals insecurity beneath the surface. Respect means offering help without the expectation of a spotlight. Real generosity speaks quietly and confidently. The loudest favors are rarely the kindest. Dominating discussions under the guise of enthusiasm silences others. Interruptions framed as contributions reveal more about ego than engagement. These conversational hijackings suggest their voice matters more than yours. Respectful dialogue requires space, not steamrolling. Listening honors presence; speaking over someone disregards it entirely. Conversation is a shared rhythm, not a solo performance. Taking over the shift connection into competition. Dialogue turns to monologue beneath unchecked arrogance. Respect values silence as much as speech. True engagement makes room for every voice at the table. 'Come if you want' isn't an invitation—it's a dismissal dressed up as inclusion. These lukewarm offers signal that you're not a priority, but rather tolerated. It's less about sharing time and more about preserving appearances. Ambiguous invitations create distance where clarity would build trust. The unspoken message is: you're welcome, but not wanted. True invitations carry warmth, not obligation. Half-hearted offers protect their image while undermining the connection. Respect means sincerity in extending space. Real inclusion doesn't leave room for doubt. Genuine relationships don't hinge on casual indifference. Generosity evaporates the moment it's turned into leverage. Offering to pay only to gripe later transforms kindness into manipulation. What seemed thoughtful becomes transactional, layered in guilt. Complaining undermines the gesture, revealing control beneath the courtesy. Beneath the surface lies a tally sheet, not goodwill. True generosity requires no receipt for gratitude. Complaints soil the intent behind the offer. Respect honors both giving and receiving with grace. Genuine kindness doesn't seek repayment through guilt. The most gracious acts remain silent after delivery. Telling someone to 'calm down' minimizes their experience rather than addressing it. It dismisses emotion under the guise of rationality, implying overreaction where understanding is needed. Instead of offering empathy, it silences vulnerability. These words invalidate rather than soothe, undermining connection through condescension. Respect holds space for feelings, rather than issuing directives to suppress them. Psychology experts warn that phrases like this escalate conflict rather than resolve it. Calm isn't commanded—it's cultivated through compassion. Being heard defuses tension faster than being dismissed. Respect means listening without judgment. True care validates emotions instead of silencing them.
Fast Company
27-06-2025
- General
- Fast Company
5 self-sabotaging career moves women often make—and how to avoid them
We often focus on the visible obstacles stopping women from getting ahead: pay inequality, missed promotions and opportunities, and those boardroom tables with not quite enough seats. Yet there is another, less-visible hindrance to women's career success: our internal habits, harder to name and even harder to shake. The opportunity passed over not because it was out of reach, but because our inner dialogue said it wasn't ours to take. The apology slipped into an email that didn't need one. The shrinking, the over-preparing, and the relentless self-editing. These aren't flaws. They are learned responses to a system that taught women to be capable but cautious, competent but not disruptive, and yes, to have a voice, but not one that was too loud. These unexamined habits are shaping the careers we never meant to build. 1. Confusing competence with visibility The sabotage: Many women believe if they work hard enough, someone will notice. Excellence in silence is rarely rewarded. Doing exceptional work and not drawing attention to it isn't noble. It's often just an efficient way of handing credit to someone else. The insight: Hard work that goes unseen and waiting politely for one's turn builds resentment. Being good at your job isn't the same as being known for it, and in competitive environments, what isn't seen often doesn't count. How to avoid it: Don't wait to be discovered. Learn to self-promote and name what you do, so no one else gets to define it for you. Regularly share wins—both yours and those of others—in team settings. 2. Waiting for certainty The sabotage: This is self-doubt amplified. When it comes to promotions, unless almost every box is ticked, women are reluctant to put themselves forward. One unchecked box and it's a hard stop . . . until next time. The insight: What if there is no next time? When rejecting an opportunity, what might the perception being sent to your boss be? Your boss isn't a mind reader, magically understanding your thoughts moving back and forth. Instead, they take it on surface value, assuming you're not so engaged or interested in being here. And hesitations compound over time: not just in missed opportunities, but in lost wealth, confidence, reputation, and influence. How to avoid it: Adopt a 'progress, not perfection' mindset. Practice tentative boldness and redefine your readiness, taking steps forward and refining as you go. 3. Being modest with achievements The sabotage: Women often downplay workplace achievements, opting for humility over self-advocacy. The reluctance to self-promote is confused with bragging and arrogance. But being comfortable in naming your achievement is necessary for self-worth. The insight: What begins as humility can morph into invisibility. Habitually softening your impact and deflecting praise reinforces a narrative where your work is assumed rather than acknowledged. It can train those around you to expect performance without credit. Visibility isn't vanity. It's professional accountability. How to avoid it: Replace vague self-effacement with concrete contribution. Say, 'Here's what I contributed to that outcome,' rather than, 'I just helped out a bit.' Plus, adopt an internal mantra: 'It's not arrogance if it's accurate.' 4. Seeking career advice from the wrong counsel The sabotage: Turning only to people who mirror your fears instead of challenging your growth. Often these are friends, family, or colleagues. Their intention might be for the best, but they have a bias to protect. The insight: What's the point? Friends and family often want to shield us from discomfort. But their advice can reflect their own fears, rather than your potential. And not every colleague has honorable intentions. Discussions like this can snowball, reinforcing not only why you shouldn't take up the opportunity, but any other advancements, ever. The validation might feel safer, but it doesn't help. It's damaging. How to avoid it: Seek advice from those who will challenge your thinking, not just nod along. Limit conversations that turn into bandwagoning. Seek to have actions as a result of purposeful career discussions, even if they are micro-moves. Take responsibility for your decisions: When coming to a decision, do you say, 'I have decided' or 'My partner and I think' more often? Clarity begins with ownership. 5. Being busy instead of strategic The sabotage: Investing in extra work tasks that don't pay dividends. This is saying yes to everything in the name of being helpful while it slowly erodes your capacity. The insight: Over-functioning is not the same as overachieving. The cost is invisibly paid in missed raises, burnout, and career stagnation. The perception of your busyness might be that you are not in control of your workload. How to avoid it: Be discerning and politely decline what dilutes your focus. Track value over volume and pick strategic tasks that upskill and serve your growth. Practice saying no not with guilt, but with respect for where you're headed.
Daily Mail
04-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Video: Karine Jean Pierre insists Biden is competent in resurfaced videos
Take a look at all the times Karine Jean-Pierre suggested Joe Biden was physically and mentally competent to serve as President of the United States. The former White House Press Secretary has penned a tell-all book taking on his political rivals and revealed she is leaving the Democratic Party.
