An interesting question asked by one of my students in class. “Is sucking up necessary to get a promotion or a raise?”

Well, let me clarify the context of the question. We were analyzing a scenario of an employee wanting to ask for a raise from his boss and this was to help them understand the important of context and the many factors that come into play that may affect the communication process. We were in the point of analyzing social context, particularly the type of relationship an employee has with the boss. We were having a little debate on the merits of having to know the boss personally and how that positive relationship affects the outcome of the request.

Fair enough, it was a class consensus that such a relationship will definitely have an advantage especially since if you were the employee, approaching your boss wouldn’t be that much of a hurdle anymore and expressing one’s mind would be much easier. Most of my students claimed that they will be “scared sh*tless” to approach a boss. Additional comments asserted that the whole process may even need some “sucking up” as some sort of buffer “investment.”

Then the question came up. And this guy student of mine who asked the question added that “Because, personally, I’m not the type of person who would do so.”

Well, I admire the guy’s principle. But for you and me who’s been in a formal workplace before (or for any Dilbert fan), would know that in any organization, politics run deep. It’s been rare for workplaces to totally consider the black and the white when deciding for vital promotions and raises. “Sleeping” or “sleazing” one’s way to the top hasn’t been really uncommon. Silent workers, even if diligent and hardworking, can have some rewards but those are nothing to what a motivated mover-shaker ass-kisser can achieve.

Promotions entail that you will be handling responsibility. And most of that will be responsibility for people. Management prefers people persons for these spots more than the pure workhorse materials. But does this mean that you’d have to be all out just to advance your career? Let me qualify.

People skills are important and showing that you can go toe to toe with just about everyone (even with the higher-ups) when communicating is essential for career advancement. Fostering friendship with co-workers (and bosses) also has its merits in fostering a more people-friendly working environment. “Sucking up” is a different matter.

Showing your people skills is one thing. Having such skills only shows that you might have the potential to be responsible for people, thus, warranting a raise or a promotion. While I understand that performance should really be one of the primary keys for career advancement, it can’t be denied that being in the boss’ good favor can still define the advantage when it just so happens that the “other guy” is at par with you in terms of performance.

Now to answer the question. Not really. There are ways to engage the boss without being an ass-kisser. Sucking up works if you work in a place where decision makers based decisions heavily on good favor.

But more importantly, for me, it’s the person’s innate skill, talent and attitude that’s really important. If you earned your promotion mainly because of those, I salute you. Otherwise, you’re just one lucky ass-kissing bastard.