Kiss the Ring: Hierarchy Matters (Its not what you think)
Excerpted from The Truth About Managing Your CareerAnd Nothing But The Truth.
Someone once asked a Washington insider how to deal with important people whom you cant stand. His reply? You put on your respectful face and you dont blink. This strategy is known in business circles as kissing the ring. Its origins lie in a much earlier era, when royalty and clerics wore rings of office denoting their status. Bowing your head as you kissed their rings was how you showed respect for their office, while not necessarily feeling that sentiment towards the characters themselves.
Why go to the trouble to show deference to someone you dont personally like or respect? In the cut and thrust world of business, as in the political sphere, its all about survival. Or, to look at it more positively, enlightened self-interest. Like it or not, the business world is structured by a strong sense of hierarchy. Why else would we be so fixated on gaining promotions and better titles? Those high up can have a significant impact upon your reputation and career: positive if they like you and see you playing by the rules,...