alt Hacker Newswe are human being interacting with other human beings. what you call "kissing ass" is just learning to influence and work with other humans. It is by far the most useful skill to have in workplace. But don't worry. continue your disdain of it, includeing calling it negative names, and watch your career stagnate.
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Sometimes.
Sometimes it's just bullshit.
Learn the lingo, the language, the proper way of posturing and the correct way to shirk responsibility and that's what matters in certain orgs.
I sound really bitter, but I'm not, I'm actually quite good at the game and I've proven that, I just don't really like the game because it doesn't translate into being able to take pride in what I've done. It's all about serving egos. Your own and others.
Every french multinational I've worked for is entirely built on this.
You're not wrong. You're just missing the thing people are complaining about: The existence of people who succeed in pushing for inferior solutions, and managing to leave before it becomes clear (which can take years in a large company).
My previous company is in a bad position and many such folks are finally being outed. But it takes lots and lots of screwing up before the fat is trimmed.
I've literally never had the thought of "how do I influence other people." Why is that considered a valuable skill? It just sounds like a nicer version of "manipulation".
I don't disagree with you, except that a career can stagnate. Maybe you are already working in your ideal role, solving cool problems every day. Maybe moving up the ladder nets you more money but less of what you actually want in life.
Less a comment for yourself and more for the reader by the way. It is important to know what you want and strive for that.
Nah, people say this all the time but organisations where these sorts of gratuitous social games are absent tend to BTFO of organisations where they're present/expected.
Or continue being an ass and kissing asses, and watch the workforce unionize and see how the people YOU disdain shows you who has the real power
> It is by far the most useful skill to have in workplace.
This might be defacto true in most workplaces, but defending "politics over competence" boils down to "I deserve the rewards from other people's work".
People oppose it because it is morally wrong, not because they think it is an inaccurate description of reality.