Are you a Brown-Nosing Cynic?

I've received some interesting emails from readers of this blog who seem to think that these Brown-Nosing skills are not needed for you to get a promotion.  In fact, some of you continue to believe that being good at your job is all that should be required and you are even whining about the fact that your organization is full of brownnosers and you can't get anywhere and I'm doing nothing but promoting the behavior.  No, I am not promoting being a brownnoser.  I am promoting the use of the skills that brownnosers use which is a BIG difference.  

If you think that building relationships and alliances, creating visibility for yourself and your work, positioning yourself and your ideas in ways that make people see their value and being able to make fundamental human connections with others is all a bunch of bunk, allow me to enlighten you by sharing a lesson - one I like to call Organizations and Careers 101.

As you continue to take on increasing levels of responsibility in your organization the skills required to be successful at those levels changes.  There are three types of skills that people need at work; technical skills, human relations skills, and conceptual or strategic skills.

At lower levels of an organization, technical skill is most important.  You have to be able to do your job.  Depending on the type of work you do your proficiency might be critical because people's safety and security are at risk. In these cases, doing less than a good job could cause someone to get hurt. Naturally, at this level,  you need to be able to get along with others (human relations skills), but rarely do you need to understand how the parts of the organization and the organizational relationships relate to the whole (conceptual/strategic skill). 

Now you get a promotion. As a supervisor or middle manager you still need to know how to do the job, but what becomes much more important is your human relations skill (building relationships, connecting with others) since you are now required to get things done through others.  How those people who work for you relate to each other and how those relationships affect the work to be done is a little bit more important (conceptual/strategic skill) at this point.  Another key thing to remember here is that you now need to be able to interact with people below you in the organization, above you in the organization and your peers. 

At senior levels of management technical skill isn't so important anymore.  We often read about a company bringing in someone from an outside industry to run the business.  For example, a consumer products leader might be asked to lead a technology company though he or she knows littel about the particular technology or the industry. Why is this done?

Because at this level conceptual and strategic skill (ability to see the big picture, to see how the parts relate to the whole, how to build alliances, network with others to secure resources, position concepts and ideas)  along with the ability to build alliance and relationships (human relations skills) are critical to success.  People brought in from the outside have usually demonstrated great skill in these areas (NOTE:  These people HAVE demonstrated - past tense.  They have already shown influential people they can do the job by using some of the fundamental brownnosing skills I've been talking about.  They haven't waited until someone gave them the big boss role to turn on the charm.  Au contraire -  they have set themselves up for the role.

If you want to move up the ladder in your organization, you MUST be able to show the powers that be that you have the skills required for success at the next level. The best place to start developing and showcasing them is right where you are. Most companies won't put you in a role if they don't have some comfort in your ability to be successful.  It's too risky.  Sure, someone may get hurt if you screw up at a lower level, but the entire department or organization could be hurt if you screw up at higher levels. That's why the rewards are so much greater in those higher positions ---- the skills are more complex and the risks are much greater. All these skills overlap and are useful at all levels - but the degree to which you use them and the complexity of their execution continues to change.

Now go back and think about those brownnosers that you despise so much.  They find a way to develop and practice these skills. If you don't want to do this, that's OK.  But continual whining simply tells everyone that you don't understand the dynamics of organization or human behavior.  Very few whiners ever find their way to the top --- of anything.

Think about it ---- and let me know what YOU think.  Email me or leave a comment.  I welcome the discussion!

Later - Linda

Comments

[Linda]

Enario - I have to agree. It is cumbersome looking for a new job. But if you've discovered what your true passion is, it might actually be fun looking for a way to express that, don't you think? You could make it something to look forward to - like little kids look forward to their birthday parties because of the gifts they will receive.

Let me ask you this. Do you think that the uncertainty that sends chills down your spine is worse than the certainty of being bored each day?

I don't mean to make light of your feelings. Change can be terrifying. For me, once I got past the fear the life I've discovered on 'the other side' has been wonderful. It has not always been easy, but I have never had one regret.

Perhaps you should take it slow. You could start by imagining the future you'd like to see for yourself. That imagine might be enough to push you into some action - even if it is just a small step.

What do you think?

[Enario]

Linda- I have contemplated this idea for some time now. You are correct in the advice of searching my heart and finding what best suits me however, it is the uncertainty that sends chills down my spine. It is a very cumbersome job market and let’s face it, venturing out ones comfort zone is some what daunting.

[Linda]

Enario - Pehaps it is time for a change for you? For me, boredom is a terrible thing and seems to sap my joy of living. If this has happened to you, a little soul searching might be in order.

It is OK and quite normal to feel good about the work you are doing (feel successful) and still believe you have a great deal more to offer. If you think you can offer your talent to your current organization, then creating a Personal Public Relations campaign to get you noticed might be what you need.

If you think that you've 'peaked' where you are, then as uncomfortable and as scary as that may sound, it may be time for a change - a change of job, company or career. There is a process to make that happen as well, but only you know whether or not that is the right thing for you. Search your heart, gut and soul. What is it telling you?

Have you been thinking about or considering any of this?

[Enario]

Linda – What if you are at the point where as you see yourself as invisible but getting things done and not being recognized by your organization. In a way I am successful but board.

[Linda]

Enario - I guess that depends on whether you buy my approach to brown-nosing. If doing things that make you visible in your organization and get you noticed is brown-nosing, then by all means, you might be one! But what's wrong with that? Would you rather be successful and called a brown-noser (by people who are envious that you can use these skills successfully) or unhappy with where you are in your career but feel good that you've never 'brown-nosed'? For me - happy and successful always wins. It allows me to make others happy and successful.

[Enario]

Linda,

I just recently acquired your blog and can agree with you to a certain extent. I am a professional adult that has had to fight for everything to achieve success. I understand what you are saying about brown-nosers but look at it in a different way. I have found that in my life hard work, determination, and passion are the key elements that describe success.

Again, like yourself, after 20 years in the corporate world I have found that the only way to survive is to evolve and adapt with your peers. Does this constitute brown-nosing?