In the 1969 book The Peter Principle, Dr. Laurence Peter and Raymond Hull presented what is known as the Peter Principle, which states that people tend to be promoted until they reach a level that is beyond their ability to competently function.
Though the principle is a satirical hypothesis, it is not without basis. The essence of the principle seems to be a pedestrian reality in most organizations. As people are promoted, management seems to give little consideration to God’s purpose for people; promotion decisions are based on perceived potential. Anytime a person works outside his or her design, there is little or no favor, grace, revelation, and wisdom. This leads to dysfunctional performance. But when people work congruent with their design, there is favor, grace, revelation, and wisdom. This produces excellent performance.
If you subscribe to the thesis the humans are divinely designed by God, then how does one find his or her design?
I believe Scripture provides a key principle to help each of us find our divinely ordained design. The principle is C4, an acronym for calling, character, capability, and commissioning.
Calling is the divinely ordained passion uniquely and sovereignly placed in the heart of each human.
Character is a measure of godly maturity that enables us to live in alignment with the will and ways of God.
Capability is the individual skill and ability to do what each of us has been uniquely called to do.
Commissioning is the validation of the call of God on each individual by authority figures sovereignly placed in the lives of all of us.
Character is arguably the most difficult of the C4 components. Maturing and growing in Christ is very challenging but is essential for enabling a person to find and fulfill his or her life purpose. Growth in Christ is a key ingredient to life's many transitions. And each transition represents an opportunity for promotion.
The above scripture provides God’s perspective on promotion. God does not promote based on perceived potential that then leads to a career
dead end. In other words, God does not promote based on the Peter Principle.
God promotes based on humility and faithfulness—key elements of godly character. In the parable of the minas, which is the context of the above text, the servants were each given one mina to steward. They were told by their master to conduct business until he returned. When he returned, he held them accountable. The servants who produced a profit were noted for their humble, faithful obedience to their master’s will. Based on this, they were promoted. Therefore biblically, promotion should be based on humble, faithful obedience to the divine design of each human being. The C4 principle is a powerful tool to enable people to discover their unique design. Those who walk in their C4 will avoid the Peter Principle and produce excellent work.
Here is your business tip. Don’t succumb to the Peter Principle—promotion based on perceived potential for success without regard to divine design. Promote based on humble, faithful service to the will and ways of the Master (i.e., God). Use C4 as a foundational principle to help discern who was created for each position in the organization. Build your organization patiently by testing people to see what they have C4 to do. Note particularly their character development and seek those who serve humbly and faithfully. Promote based on humble, faithful obedience to the will of God, that is, the divine design of each person. |
