[tomp]

> It's akin to promoting someone based on their personal loyalty to the manager rather than their ability to do the job.

Nah, it's way worse. Promoting based on trust can be good, trust is a very important commodity (and hard to come by). In contrast to sexual availability or whatever.

[mwfunk]

I agree, although I would distinguish between trust and personal loyalty. Trust is collegial, but loyalty is a submissive relationship, at least in the sense that I mean it here. I trust decisions based purely on trust, but I distrust decisions based purely on loyalty, which is unquestioning.

[tomp]

Makes sense, I didn't consider that small but important distinction!