How Each Zodiac Sign Handles Incompetence And Incompetent People
Why can't people just do their job?
getty One of the most frustrating things in life is witnessing incompetence, especially if it’s in any way connected to you. When someone has the ability to complete a task and do it well, but they don't, it's lacking any skill or talent.
Depending on your placement in astrology, you may deal with incompetent people differently. And for the zodiac signs, they all handle these people in their own way. It may make them annoyed, frustrated, and even angry.
If you’re incompetent and have no desire to improve, nobody should feel sorry for you. If you know that you suck at your job and do everything in your power to get the skills you need to do it better, however, there's room for respect.
Incompetence isn’t something to strive for, but competence is. If you don’t know what you’re doing, find out and work to get better at it. You might not end up as an expert, but if you have some proficiency, you’ll have earned self-respect.
ARIES (March 21 - April 19)
Aries don't understand how someone could be okay with being incompetent. This could be because they're very competitive by nature and strive to be the best and do everything well.
They have very little empathy for people who lack the skill or drive to improve, so they may handle incompetence by getting so frustrated that they blow up and say some unkind (but probably true) things.
TAURUS (April 20 - May 20)
Taurus handle incompetence by trying to limit their exposure to it. If a co-worker is incompetent, Taurus will limit contact with them. They tend not to want to get involved with someone else's inadequacy.
Taurus would rather avoid getting into an argument over someone's incompetence, so they just avoid them as much as possible. And when they're forced to witness another's incompetence, they'll turn away.
GEMINI (May 21 - June 20)
Geminis believe that everyone deserves the benefit of the doubt. If someone is incompetent, they will have a frank discussion and will try to find out why they're doing so poorly.
If Gemini can help steer them in the right direction where they can get help or training to make them less inept, they will gladly do so, even if they have to tutor this person themselves.
CANCER (June 21 - July 22)
Cancer will try to have empathy for the incompetent person. If Cancer is at the grocery store and the bagger/clerk is bagging the groceries all wrong, they will subtly take over by saying they prefer to bag their own groceries.
Cancer doesn't want to hurt the person because this zodiac sign is kind and probably can relate on some level to what the incompetent person is going through.
LEO (July 23 - August 22)
When Leo encounters an incompetent person, they'll try to motivate them to do better. When Leo has a job to do, they put effort into doing it well.
They will use whatever motivational tactics they think will do the trick and help improve the incompetent person's performance. Leos tend to be kind and helpful, and they know that with the right motivation, people can do anything.
VIRGO (August 23 - September 22)
Since Virgos are one of the most competent signs of the zodiac, it's not surprising that they handle incompetence by setting an example. Virgos aren't trying to show off or prove how much better than they are, they just know that for some people, seeing something in action is the best way to learn.
Think about how when one is learning to wait tables, they may shadow a server for a day or two so they can learn the ropes.
LIBRA (September 23 - October 22)
When handling incompetence, Libras try to remain patient and let go of their expectations. If they don't seek perfection or even proficiency, they won't get as disappointed.
Libras try to be fair and not judgmental of someone who lacks skill and/or ability, but even someone as balanced as they are can get frustrated. But if their expectations are low, they won't get as emotionally involved.
SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21)
Incompetence drives Scorpio bananas — they absolutely can't stand it! It's not unlikely for a Scorpio to take over if someone is incompetent. It's hard for them to keep calm and not blow up, so the best thing they can do is to avoid witnessing or coming into contact with incompetence.
If they know that the clerk at the laundry always has some kind of personal issue they feel they must share, Scorpio will go to another laundry place, even if it's not convenient.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 21)
Sagittarius individuals can be impatient and careless when it comes to dealing with incompetence. They may try to dismiss the person, or they could be tactless and say something that comes off as very critical.
It's not that Sagittarians don't care — they do, it's just that sometimes they don't have the bandwidth to deal with incompetence. They are straightforward and believe in telling the truth, even if the truth hurts.
CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19)
One of Capricorn's secret worries is that they're incompetent, which is why they always do more than what's expected of them. If someone they work with is incompetent, Capricorn will try to help them improve.
This zodiac sign tends to be very disciplined and patient, so they will do what needs to be done to improve their co-worker's skillset. Capricorns believe in taking pride in one's work, and you can't do that if you fail at it.
AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18)
Aquarians get extremely frustrated and annoyed at incompetence. They may try to distance themselves from the incompetent person, saying that it's not their problem.
Aquarius doesn't want to know the backstory or hear about any emotional turmoil; if someone can't do their job satisfactorily, they need to get a job they can do. However, it's not their problem.
PISCES (February 19 - March 20)
Pisces doesn't want anyone else's incompetence to reflect on them, so they're going to cover their butt. If it's a colleague or someone Pisces is mentoring, they will give the individual a number of opportunities to improve; if they don't, Pisces will try to disconnect from them.
If Pisces doesn't separate from the incompetent person, they risk being dragged down with them.
Christine Schoenwald is a writer, performer, and astrology lover. She has written over 500 articles on the zodiac signs and how the stars influence us. She's had articles in The Los Angeles Times, Salon, Woman's Day, and is a contributing writer to Ravishly, I AM & CO, and YourTango. Check out her website or and her Instagram.