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Kissing up to the boss is not a "must" to get ahead. Neither is stabbing your boss in the back.

To get ahead with integrity involves a simple rule of smart behavior: "Know your audience." In other words, know who you work for and who you work with. Know the people.

When it comes to the boss, "Know your Audience." I had a boss that when something went wrong, he would come in, grill you with a bunch of to the point questions, pinch his lips in thought and leave. He would come off like you were the one to blame and he was really upset. I knew that he was just processing. Once done, we could process a solution calmly. I learned that he did not want long answers to his questions, so I kept answers short. I did not kiss up, I just worked smart and understood my boss's behavior. We worked well together.

It applies the same with when you want support of your colleagues, then know which ones like a lot of direction and give them directions. Know which one's like to have space and give them space. Know your co-workers and your own strength and weaknesses, then plan to put it together. Be the leader, and lead by example.

Working well means working smart, and that means knowing the job and the people. By "Knowing your audience," you are working smart and getting ahead. Now, if you have a boss that likes "kissing up" then I guess you might want to invest in chapstick.

Learn more about this author, Chris Sura.
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