Why do less qualified people sometimes get promoted while highly competent people stay overlooked?

In this episode of Zero Distortion, we break down the real psychology behind promotions, workplace politics, and why visibility often beats raw competence.

Most organizations don’t reward skill alone. They reward perception, proximity to leadership, confidence, and narrative control. If you focus only on doing great work and ignore how that work is seen, you may be competing on only half the field.

In this episode, we explore:

Why competence doesn’t automatically lead to advancement

How confidence is often mistaken for capability

Why credit flows upward in organizations

The role of workplace politics in promotions

How visibility and signal shape career growth

This isn’t about complaining. It’s about understanding incentives.

Skill gets you in the room.

If you’ve ever wondered why hard work doesn’t always translate into success, this episode explains why.