Another Fan Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 I make polite conversation with managers at times. Not much though beyond talking about generic stuff like Netflix shows. Some people do this where I work a lot. While yes I think it helps them get promoted at times, a lot of times these people in their new roles don’t last. I know one friend who works for a public accountant firm said it’s pretty bad at his firm. Pre pandemic hanging out at happy hours was an unwritten expectation. What are others experiences? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Poojer Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 I am 57 years old....brown nosing for me stopped several years ago....my work does the talking for me. People know exactly who i am at work and as a result i often show up to find some interesting beer or wine on my desk....and i am not in any way, shape or form in a position of management, so they certainly aren't brown nosing me 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeviF Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 Kneepads are standard issue here. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasons1992 Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 I work from home, and don't hear from the bosses unless I make a mistake (which isn't too many these days). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blokestradamus Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 1 hour ago, LeviF91 said: Kneepads are standard issue here. Spot the Nonce just took a turn. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunnerBill Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 I am kind of the inverse brown nose. I am the one who takes the piss out of my seniors in a way that allows people to laugh at them a bit and see that they are human without being offensive. I am also the guy that is always turned to for a blunt opinion. Especially by Ministers. One Minister who shall remain nameless couldn't remember my name but would frequently ask for "the northern one" when she wanted someone to cut through the BS for her. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blokestradamus Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 6 minutes ago, GunnerBill said: One Minister who shall remain nameless couldn't remember my name but would frequently ask for "the northern one" when she wanted someone to cut through the BS for her. God, I really want this to be Nadine Dorries 😂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunnerBill Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 2 minutes ago, Blokestradamus said: God, I really want this to be Nadine Dorries 😂 I can confirm it is not Nadine Dorries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, GunnerBill said: I am kind of the inverse brown nose. I am the one who takes the piss out of my seniors in a way that allows people to laugh at them a bit and see that they are human without being offensive. I am also the guy that is always turned to for a blunt opinion. Especially by Ministers. One Minister who shall remain nameless couldn't remember my name but would frequently ask for "the northern one" when she wanted someone to cut through the BS for her. I’m retired, but you sound a bit like my wife. Everyone is afraid of the CEO, so they just nod and do as they’re told. My wife will call out the BS, in a polite way. She actually just applied to take a semi-demotion from a national role to a regional role. The guy desperately wanted her, but the big boss said “nope, she’s too valuable to the firm in the national role. You can’t have her.” In effect she said “I’d rather work for him than you”, but she did it in a nice way. “I think I can make more of a difference in that role where I know I can really move the needle. I don’t feel like I’m doing that here.” The CEO might be difficult, but she’s also brilliant! If you are surrounded by “yes people” it’s too easy to get off the right path because nobody will question you or call you out when you don’t make the right call. There is value in being blunt on occasion. . Edited September 22, 2020 by Augie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhoTom Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 I'm self-employed and I'm not very limber. 1 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasons1992 Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 7 minutes ago, WhoTom said: I'm self-employed and I'm not very limber. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgewaycynic2013 Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 Called into an office to receive a commendation. Left with a written warning. Tell you anything? 😁 1 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBBills Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 Seeing as I was hired b.c I wasn't a brown nose asshat, none. I tell you if you suck at your job, and I tell you if you didn't do something right. As long as you are working though I will help you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4_kidd_4 Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 None. I work in a specialized health care with pretty much no room for upwards advancement. Plus the robber barons that I work for don’t give COLA or performance review based raises. So I am kind, courteous and compassionate to my patients, and management can go eff themselves. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Hammersticks Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 None. My immediate supervisor is a complete dolt, and I am the only person in my organization that can do what I do. And I am good at my job. No reason the be a suck up, but at the same time I am nice to most “authority figures” at work. Those that deserve to be treated with respect, that is... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dean Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 (edited) When I worked for people, I regularly joked and drank with several of my bosses/coworkers. But I never considered that brown-nosing. I did it because it was fun and wanted to. But when it came to work, I was an anti-brown nose. A couple bosses criticized me for not "managing up" well---but conceded I did an excellent job managing across and down. I would disagree and criticize my bosses (usually nicely, but not always) when necessary. That usually was fine for a couple years, but when the bosses back is against the wall, they can grow weary of not being "supported" no matter what they did or said. So three years was my typical lifespan in an organization. I think the biggest issue in their eyes was my consistent refusal/failure to document everything I accomplished, give regular reports and updates, etc. I was too busy getting things done, by doing a good job managing the people who did actual work. Few things I despise more than busy work/administrative garbage. Yes, there were times my boss needed to present to his/her boss, and wanted the documentation for a presentation. I did those. But no "weekly" or "monthly" reports. Hated that crap. Even now that I work for myself, I've had a couple of retainer clients request regular reports when I first started with them. I told them they hired the wrong guy for that. Want to discuss the details over a drink? Fine, let's do it! My new life: No meetings, no reports, no direct bosses. Of course all my clients are I suppose "bosses", but they know better than to think that way. One thing I didn't mention is, I had a couple people work for me who were MAJOR brown noses. I did my best to put a stop to it, but hard to wipe the stain off a lifelong brown noser. Edited September 22, 2020 by The Dean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Over 29 years of fanhood Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 (edited) I not only dislike brown nosers, I stupidly thought as a young buck fresh out in the world that brown nosers were obvious and couldn’t understand why their leaders didn’t see the transparent sucking up Years letter I realized, oh my, it’s not that the leadership doesn’t realize it, THEY LIKE IT!!! While I still despise the behavior I’m respectful, maybe excessively to some of the bigger egos especially upward, but I also am respectful to my piers and subordinates too. in the end I’ve absolutely hit my ceiling where I have a solid and growing team of Project and program mgrs, and we get results, raises and rewards and drive and deliver all the initiatives... but I i guess I’m too dumb to employ the sycophantic tendencies to work into the VP/c suite that those who do will I just can’t bring myself to act that way. My boss told me more than once I’m too honest Edited September 22, 2020 by Over 29 years of fanhood 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 None! It's the people who get the job done, hands dirty and kill their bodies with irregular sleep patterns, ie: "us" (Labor) AND "them" (DeskJockey Management). I am not sucking up, I will take it to my grave. No quarter asked. No quarter given. 3 hours ago, Augie said: I’m retired, but you sound a bit like my wife. Everyone is afraid of the CEO, so they just nod and do as they’re told. My wife will call out the BS, in a polite way. She actually just applied to take a semi-demotion from a national role to a regional role. The guy desperately wanted her, but the big boss said “nope, she’s too valuable to the firm in the national role. You can’t have her.” In effect she said “I’d rather work for him than you”, but she did it in a nice way. “I think I can make more of a difference in that role where I know I can really move the needle. I don’t feel like I’m doing that here.” The CEO might be difficult, but she’s also brilliant! If you are surrounded by “yes people” it’s too easy to get off the right path because nobody will question you or call you out when you don’t make the right call. There is value in being blunt on occasion. 5 hours ago, LeviF91 said: Kneepads are standard issue here. Yeah, lots of practice on some civilian's neck. 😉 😜 😘 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dean Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 5 hours ago, Augie said: I’m retired, but you sound a bit like my wife. Everyone is afraid of the CEO, so they just nod and do as they’re told. My wife will call out the BS, in a polite way. She actually just applied to take a semi-demotion from a national role to a regional role. The guy desperately wanted her, but the big boss said “nope, she’s too valuable to the firm in the national role. You can’t have her.” In effect she said “I’d rather work for him than you”, but she did it in a nice way. “I think I can make more of a difference in that role where I know I can really move the needle. I don’t feel like I’m doing that here.” The CEO might be difficult, but she’s also brilliant! If you are surrounded by “yes people” it’s too easy to get off the right path because nobody will question you or call you out when you don’t make the right call. There is value in being blunt on occasion. . Did the CEO grant her request? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 1 minute ago, The Dean said: Did the CEO grant her request? Nope, CEO wouldn’t let her go. Said she was more important in the current national position. They have a call set for 6:30 tonight. Should be interesting! What the CEO doesn’t know is her previous employer of 18 years has reached out to my wife about a position opening up next spring, conveniently after the February bonuses. Having options is nice. It reminds me of when a team won’t let a coach talk to another team about a lateral (or in this case backward) move they are allowed to block, but it’s frowned upon. Bad form. She likes the bigger job, but they won’t give her the resources to “win”. She could feel like she’s winning more in the regional job. Problem is, nobody can “win” in the national job they way it is now. She’s the best option and has got some leverage they are aware, and an option about which they are unaware. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dean Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 1 hour ago, Augie said: Nope, CEO wouldn’t let her go. Said she was more important in the current national position. They have a call set for 6:30 tonight. Should be interesting! What the CEO doesn’t know is her previous employer of 18 years has reached out to my wife about a position opening up next spring, conveniently after the February bonuses. Having options is nice. It reminds me of when a team won’t let a coach talk to another team about a lateral (or in this case backward) move they are allowed to block, but it’s frowned upon. Bad form. She likes the bigger job, but they won’t give her the resources to “win”. She could feel like she’s winning more in the regional job. Problem is, nobody can “win” in the national job they way it is now. She’s the best option and has got some leverage they are aware, and an option about which they are unaware. Well, then she's in the catbird seat. Good for her. Hope it works out. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KD in CA Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 This thread reminds me of my all-time favorite commercial. Monster's brilliant 'When I Grow Up' Super Bowl Ad: 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orlando Tim Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 My version of brown nosing is not telling my incompetent assistant principal to pound sand every time she asks for my assistance. I will generally ask my actual principal, who is awesome, what I should do to help kids and do that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 21 minutes ago, Buffalo Timmy said: My version of brown nosing is not telling my incompetent assistant principal to pound sand every time she asks for my assistance. I will generally ask my actual principal, who is awesome, what I should do to help kids and do that Middle mangers suck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orlando Tim Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 39 minutes ago, ExiledInIllinois said: Middle mangers suck. I need to add the word some because my first AP was fantastic and now is a principal. The good ones rarely last in the middle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Punching Bag Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 Hard to brown nose where you work at a customer site and barely see anyone from company. Some of customer VIPs know who I am and will contact me in crisis rather than going thru command team but that is probably because I am more experienced than them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dean Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 1 hour ago, KD in CA said: This thread reminds me of my all-time favorite commercial. Monster's brilliant 'When I Grow Up' Super Bowl Ad: A classic ad. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KD in CA Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 2 minutes ago, The Dean said: A classic ad. I always wonder if ad teams know at the time that they've absolutely crushed it. Do they run around the conference room high-fiving like Barry Bonds watching a HR ball fly into the Bay? Or do they never really know until the public reacts? Or do they just go to the bar, get drunk and hook up with some random hottie either way, like Don Draper? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dean Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 1 minute ago, KD in CA said: I always wonder if ad teams know at the time that they've absolutely crushed it. Do they run around the conference room high-fiving like Barry Bonds watching a HR ball fly into the Bay? Or do they never really know until the public reacts? Or do they just go to the bar, get drunk and hook up with some random hottie either way, like Don Draper? Assuming they test their ads with audiences, they might have some idea. But judging by some of the ads on the air, I'm guessing they don't always do that much research. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuvian Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 I'm a union activist in my workplace so brown nosing is not in my vocabulary 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlimShady'sSpaceForce Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 When I first started working I may have. Now, after so many years - I play nice with new people I come across. So you could be considered brown nosing BUT Over time I just tell it like it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teef Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 there's a fine line between brown nosing and playing the game. luckily we work in a place where none of it has to happen. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inkman Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 I can't brown nose. It's just not in my character. It has probably cost me a promotion or two. We'll that and the neck tattoos. I've seen fairly incompetent peers pass me by based on the simple fact that he brown nosed with the owners and I just have no interest in that kind of relationship with anyone near that capacity. I used to think my work would speak for itself. That only goes so far. These egomaniacs need to be stroked and affirmed. Can't do it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BringBackFergy Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 If I could kiss my boss’ ass, I would. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgewaycynic2013 Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 18 minutes ago, BringBackFergy said: If I could kiss my boss’ ass, I would. Only one in that office that thinks that way. *It's nice to be important, but more important to be nice. 😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BringBackFergy Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 6 minutes ago, Ridgewaycynic2013 said: Only one in that office that thinks that way. *It's nice to be important, but more important to be nice. 😁 And my boss has a big ass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 25 minutes ago, BringBackFergy said: If I could kiss my boss’ ass, I would. What are you? The man from Nantucket? 🤣 🤣 🤣 /SorryCouldn'tResist 😉 Just now, BringBackFergy said: And my boss has a big ass. Mine does too! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 48 minutes ago, BringBackFergy said: If I could kiss my boss’ ass, I would. And if you were that flexible......we’d probably never see you again. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 ***** authority. Employees should be promoted for talent, not brown nosing. Any big ego boss who’s ego obscured the fact that he’s brown nosed, and promotes asskisser should be removed from gene pool 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irv Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 I just turned 55 and never did it. That hurt my career. I warn kids working for me that it might be necessary as their careers progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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