From: Warren Miller [mailto:
wmiller@beckmill.com]
Valued colleagues:
As one of those flat-headed 'practitioners,' let me offer my two-cents'
worth to Mike Kiska's post. I certainly agree w/Deborah's insightful
sentiments. But let me add the observation that most onlookers are as
uncomfortable w/sucking-up as we are. That includes those in proximity the
sycophant. When the target of sucking-up (one of us, for instance) knows
that it is occurring, I, for instance, have communicated that to the
non-toadies watching by discreetly rolling my eyes so that the toady can't
see. There are immediate and knowing smiles from my intended audience. 'He
gets it,' they're thinking. And that's all they need to know--that I know
what's going on.
In front of a class, of course, one can't do that. . .at least from the
front of the room. If one moves likes to stroll the aisles, as I used to
on occasion, one can, though. One can also wink at one of the class
leaders and then respond to the toady with something like 'Hmmm, let me
think about that.'
Another good response is a Socratic rejoinder. That tends to catch the
toady flat-footed and, except for the most dedicated of them, to extinguish
the behavior. They know that the ingratiation isn't working.
The key here, it seems to me, is to let the non-toadies know that I know.
I maintain my credibility, and the toady his/her dignity. . .at least
until one of their peers blows the whistle away from me!!
w.
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* Website:
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* Warren D. Miller, MBA, CPA-ABV, CMA *
* Beckmill Research/Lexington, Va. *
* Research Orientation, Results Mentality *
* 540.463.6200 (v); 540.463.6208 (f) *
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Edited by list director