Intel PAR

Bryan Dean Wright: CIA’s Problem – Subpar Spies

Make no mistake, the majority of my CIA peers were exceptional.  Yet I knew that my colleague was right:  We were losing the best and brightest because of a broken system that promoted the worst of us to positions of leadership and management. How?

The CIA promotes officers based on something called a “Performance Appraisal Report” (PAR).  Basically, an employee lists their accomplishments and two supervisors provide final comments and a grade. A “good” PAR means you’re on your way to promotion.  A “marginal” or “bad” PAR means you’re in trouble.

Unfortunately, the PAR system incentivizes spies to placate and please their supervisors at all costs. You quickly realize that you must avoid irritating or disagreeing with your senior chain of command or you will face reprisals. As a mentor once encouraged me, “If you suck up, you move up.”

The result for the CIA?  A culture of “Yes Men” (and Women).