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Smart sucking upMaster the trick of making your boss fall in love with you without your colleagues falling out with you. By Rachel Law

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To bRown-nose oR noT?It’s only human to like people who like you, and your boss is no an exception. “Getting in good with the people who manage you is a smart thing to do. These are the people who have a say in how successful you’ll be. Really successful people focus just as much on their relationships as on the substantive parts of their job,” says Lindsey Pollak, author of Getting From College To Career.

With so much competition going on, there’s validity in self-promoting and wanting to be noticed. “In some organisational cultures, positive spin trumps truth, or charisma triumphs over substance. Sometimes high visibility can hide incompetence. Often, steady performers are overlooked in favour of the more visible,” says Cindy McLaughlin, co-author of The Truth About Sucking Up: How Authentic Self-Promotion Benefits You And Your Organisation.

Like it or not, sucking up holds a fair amount of influence on you and your supervisor, and even your teammates. Do it right, and you’ll get into your boss’s good books. Do it wrong, and all you’ll be is the ‘spineless suck-up’ in your department.

1 Keep your boss informed By simply sharing – not bragging – about what

you’re working on, and acknowledging your teammates’ efforts (when teamwork is involved), your boss will know and be reminded of your talent, skills and accomplishments. “You’re doing your job, and letting them be more effective in theirs,” Cindy explains.

2 Compliment strategically Most people enjoy flattery, but it’s easy to

tell between real respect and phony praises, especially when you overdo the latter. Used strategically, sincere compliments will take you a step further.

3 Actions speak louder Flattery may leave an impression, but won’t

replace hard work. Your boss will not be impressed at the end of the day if you

Really successful people focus just as much on their

relationships as on substantive parts of

their jobs.Lindsey Pollak

can’t deliver. “To truly show your ambition, volunteer to do more work, or initiate new projects. But don’t go too far since your co-workers may not look very kindly on having their work taken away,” shares Lindsey.

4 Suck down Don’t forget the people under or around you.

You never know where people will end up, and you’ll still need their help to get things done. “The more expansive your professional network, the better chance you have of making the right impression on a person, who can benefit your prospects at your company now, or into the future,” notes career advisor Charles Purdy.

5 Match the boss’s energy If you haven’t already, identify your boss’s style, and

adapt to it. Work around his or her way of talking and working; is it quick and straightforward, or slow and progressive? “You build rapport every time you match energy,” says organisational leadership coach Faith Ralston.

6 Deliver what the boss wants Present your work the way your boss wants it.

You may not share the same modus operandi, but there’s no reason to complain or fight. Just do it!

7 Respect the boss’s position Do the sucking up covertly; always remember

that she is the boss. When you can, verbally remind her of that. You may express your ideas and opinions, but always acknowledge and defer to your boss’s decision.

7 wAYs TO dO iT RiGHT