Is kissing ass necessary to succeed in a career?.................

[CrownPrinceBandar]

I was roundly criticized by my boss today at work because I stated that I would never kiss a supervisor's butt to get ahead. I said that my hard work and attitude toward the job should be all thats required for success. I concluded my statement with the old saw: "I'd rather die on my feet, than live on my knees." My boss the retorted: "Well, I guess you'll be eating those feet"; he pointed out that my stance was prideful, ignorant of the way business works anymore and will hamper any chances of success anywhere. All the while his slimy second-in-command just stood there nodding in agreement.

Is this true? Has it become accepted business practice that along with working hard, you have to supplicate yourself to get a better position? I hope not. I don't think I'd know how to kiss ass.

The copycat threads should be good.

[redqueen]

1. Unfortunately, I think it is

At least in my experience, it's been the case more often than not. I've only had ONE boss my entire life who didn't require kissing up to.

[Magrittes Pipe]

2. Yes.

If your career is "felcher."

[redqueen]

4. What does that mean again?

[XNASA]

6. You really don't want to know.

[redqueen]

8. dammit!

I'm afraid to search for anything hedges says that I don't understand...


Ok looked it up... didn't have to click on anything thankfully.

EW!

[Magrittes Pipe]

7. When two people love each other very much...

and one of them... no, I don't think I can say that without getting this thread locked. ;)

[candy]

3. Sadly,yes----it's all a game.

[phantom power]

5. No, but I do think it's necessary to choose your battles.

Sometimes, choosing to not fight some battles can look very similar to "kissing ass", but I think there's a difference.

It's also valuable to avoid burning bridges. Even if you have to hold your tongue. Even if you are sure you are right. Things change, and the business world is a small place.

[lightbulb]

9. Kissing ass is one way to succeed

If you can look yourself in the mirror each morning without breaking out in sobs of shame. My advice is to not listen to advice from anyone you don't respect. But don't take my advice.

[gpandas]

10. for the ninety-two percent of workers in this country...

that don't have union representation it is de rigueur. union members kiss no ass.

[Redneck Socialist]

11. Depends what you mean by kissing ass.

If you mean being nice and polite to jackasses, then yes kissing ass is essential in any workplace. In most places no matter how good your work if your higher ups personally don't like you, you are not going to have very good chances of advancing. Sometimes you have to go along in order to get ahead.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

16. Being likable is one thing..................

being a yes-man is quite another. I get the feeling that many bosses are looking for yes-men (and women).

[Redneck Socialist]

19. I think you can disagree with your bosses

but do so in a polite and respectful manner. Just be prepared for them to say you're wrong, we're going to do things my way. Assuming they are not asking you to do anything illegal or immoral sometimes you have to swallow your pride and go along with the boss even if he/she is an idiot.

[medeak]

12. wouldn't call it "ass kissing"

just making people feel happy to see you.

It's called marketing.

[redqueen]

13. Now that's the way to look at it

Marketing! Ugh.

[medeak]

18. speaking as employer

of several businesses..yep I "kiss ass" market..network...whatever the heck you call it.

and pray tell employees do as well or they are gone because I work too hard to keep them employed.

Son in academic world is only person I know who has priviledge of being elistist snob...and politics may even be worse there.

Long hours of course get you somewhere but if there's a negative attitude it's negated. Negativity is a very contagious thing.

Hope everyone is out kissing ass to persuade people to vote for Kerry.

[russian33]

14. Speaking strictly from a mathematical point of view, Yes.

What Makes 100%? What does it mean to give MORE than 100%? Ever wonder
about those people who say they are giving more than 100%? We have all
been

to those meetings where someone wants you to give over 100%. How about
achieving 103%? What makes up 100% in life?

Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these
questions:

If:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

Then:

H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

and

K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

But,

A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

And,

B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T
2+21+12+12+19+8+9+20 = 103%

AND, look how far ass kissing will take you.

A-S-S-K-I-S-S-I-N-G
1+19+19+11+9+19+19+9+14+7 = 118%

So, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that While Hard work
and
Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, it's the
Bullshit and Ass kissing that will put you over the top.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

15. Wow. I guess I can't argue with the numbers..........

I'm doomed.

[ProfessorGAC]

20. Very Good. LOL!

I like this a lot. But, you forgot one

CONNECTIONS
3+15+14+14+5+3+20+9+15+14+19 = 131

That is obviously the strength one needs.
The Professor

[GoddessOfGuinness]

22. LMAO

That's great! I'm going to spread that one around! :yourock:

[forgethell]

17. Yes,

Give your boss some respect, for the position if not the man. You don't have to ass-kiss, but keep your disagreements with him private between you and him. Your attitude, as I understand it from this post, would get you a union job, possibly a shop steward. But a professional or managerial job would not lead you anywhere unless you can get along with your supervisor. I guessing here, but keep your political opinions to yourself at work, unless you know you are among like-minded people.

Tough cookies, but this is NOT a recent development. It just happens to be the way things work, and have worked since Day 1.

[Barney Rocks]

21. I have never

kissed ass--not once in my entire career. Now, it definitely has hurt me sometimes--usually there is one or two major ass kissers in my group and they are generally the bosses pets. But my self respect has been worth it to me. In my experience it has been 60-40. 60% of bosses love and expect that ass kissing. About 40% actually have LESS respect for the ass kissers (although they do enjoy it to some extent) and the non-ass kissers actually do better.

A lot depends on the field you are in--how independently you work, how much you are needed, how much education you have....if your contribution is really valued, ass-kissing will become less necessary.

[BiggJawn]

23. Must be. I don't kiss ass...

And I'm stuck in the same spot I've been for 6 years.

I really got a bad attitude, though. I came down with a bad case of the "Shrub Blues" year before last and got my ass CHEWED pretty thoroughly. so I pulled it back from the brink and got back on my game and made everybody estatic.

Pay raises came out and I got 2.01%. I could have gotten 2% just for showing up and not making waves or pissing folks off, so re-inventing Fire and Sex got me .01%

Needless to say, my attitude has shifted accordingly.

[radwriter0555]

24. Yes. BIggest mistake I ever made was NOT having lunch with the

right people.....

[CO Liberal]

25. Depends On The Career....Depends On The Ass

:-)