Navigating Office Politics: Do You Really Need to Butter Up Your Boss?

Hello seniors, your suggestions are really required. Please reply. My questions are:

1. Is it necessary to survive in the corporate world, you need to flatter your seniors?

2. Why are managers biased even though they know that the person they are favoring/supporting is not right?

3. How many of you agree with the following statement: "Employees don't leave the company, they leave their managers."

Regards

Dear Mamta, It seems you are fed up with the bad behavior of the management of your organization. Anyway, the answers to your questions are as follows:

Survival in the Corporate World

1) As for survival in a career, survival in the corporate world is quite necessary. Most bosses do prefer buttering, but buttering does not always pay off, as the survival of a corporate entity is based on performance. So, for your survival in the corporate world, you need to be more competent and talented than others (such as flatterers or manipulative people). If the management prefers buttering, you must switch to another corporate entity that may respect your competence and talent.

Reasons for Managerial Bias

2) Managers become biased mostly due to (a) pressures from above; (b) wrong feedback and backbiting by flatterers; (c) irritation due to their own domestic problems; (d) their own incompetencies, being unable to keep up with the performance of their subordinates; and (e) their instinct and preference to dictate terms as a boss.

Employees Leaving Managers, Not Companies

3) I agree, you are 100% right in saying, "employees don't leave the company, they leave their managers," as most managers are incompetent leaders. They try to manage work, dictate terms, or create problems without understanding the problems and needs of the employees. They fail to motivate employees and earn their dedication and loyalty. When managers become sources of problems for employees instead of mentors, guides, and advisers, employees leave their managers by leaving the company.

Regards,
PS Dhingra
Management & Vigilance Consultant
Dhingra Group of Consultants
New Delhi
[Email Removed For Privacy Reasons]

It is obvious that you may put a lot of effort into doing the best work, which is appreciable to all. However, because of some attitudes of managers, your seniors, or management, you will always find that our boss and management upgrade others who are doing nothing. So first, do not be upset; it happens everywhere. Take it as an opportunity to upgrade yourself and become more competent, which is required in the corporate world. My answers are as follows:

1. You need to survive in the corporate world by adding and upgrading your knowledge, skills, and strengths to grow and make yourself more competent, rather than trying to please your managers. Honest people focus on doing their best work.

2. Managers are biased many times:

- They may not want to acknowledge their subordinate's performance due to fear for their own position. Hence, they tend to give preference to those who are less capable.
- They may have sympathy, liking, or a soft corner towards those who are not able.
- People who try to please these managers.
- People who do not oppose these managers/superiors.

3. The sentence "Employees don't leave the company; they leave their managers" is 100% true. Your superior should be knowledgeable, competent, attentive, directive, and supportive. They should guide, encourage, motivate, and appreciate the efforts you put in. If we feel uncomfortable with such managers, we leave the organization, meaning we leave the managers and try to stay away from such politics.

Thanks,

Rupali

Dear Mamta, It's true that employees never leave the company; they leave their boss. On the other hand, it is also true that "Love your job and not your company." As far as I know, in the corporate world, if you love your job and are dedicated to it, you don't need any flattery, dear. It has been said and known that people with a positive attitude are hired more often than those with fancy degrees.

Regards, Kumar Sivesh [Email Removed For Privacy Reasons]

1. SELF above organization - Employees at every level should prioritize their personal growth; therefore, they should strive to achieve it. (Loyalty and sincerity, among other qualities, are only meaningful if put into practice).

2. Sheer lack of leadership qualities - It is evident that they understand what leadership entails, yet they choose not to implement it.

3. Lack of self-worth - Individuals assess their worth solely based on their position and perks, and they are willing to do anything to maintain it. I refer to these individuals as 'CORPORATE HYPOCRITES'.

"Employees don't leave the company, they leave their managers."

This quote reminds me of an irritating title of some TV serial "Kyoki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi." Remember that someday they have survived with some manager, and if I am right, you will be a "Manager" someday (I am sorry if you feel you are not today).

Coming to the First Question

Ask yourself, ARE YOU DISPENSABLE?

If the reply is "YES," then you are dispensed.

Addressing the Second Question

Do the stakeholders still prosper?

If yes, then check your axiom.
If no, then don't worry, your managers have started their countdown.

Dear Manvinder,

It usually happens when the positional bosses are not worth much and are unable to justify their performance. In that case, they normally create problems and adopt the formula of divide and rule rather than doing constructive work. To justify themselves, they pretend and show the top brass that they are handling a tough and problematic area to win the sympathy and appreciation of their bosses by creating false and artificial problems.

I don't have any objection to posting a solution to your problem here. However, most probably your GM, if he is also a member of CiteHR, may be aware of the tactics you would be adopting to tackle your problem. Since you have clearly mentioned the name of your organization, it may not be in your interest to make the solution public. It would be better if you send me a private message or email me at [Email Removed For Privacy Reasons] to get the solution. Please provide me with details of the problem to get a specific solution.

Regards,
PS Dhingra