@ultranewbie Said
I've traveled around this country working in several jobs..and it's the strangest thing, in every career i've ever had, and i've had plenty..
there's always this person that kisses up to the boss, foreman, lead tech, CEO, you name it..who hardly does any work, and what's worse, they are the ones telling their co-workers - what to do!! Management calls them co-ordinators, or "directing traffic"..they pick them out from amongst us, because they "talk the talk"..
Well you know what i've learned as a manager? folks will respect you more, or will work even harder if they know you're right there in the trenches with them, versus sitting up there on the throne waving the scepter..
I think my parents got it wrong when they said: "The harder you work, the further you'll go in life"..it's true in some cases..and a rare sight in a management position..
but, nowadays, i'm beginning to believe the more a** kissing you do, the further you'll get in life..the problem is..i'm not very good at it..but i'm very good at my job..
I totally understand where you are coming from - it feels the same where I work. In any company with more than a handful of employees vying for positions, politics aka kissing arse, is pretty much the only way to get ahead.
When top management recruit managers where I work, they look for ability, but don't look for ability to lead a team or people skills in my experience. I feel they just assume that one will translate to another - and of course, they believe what they are told in the interview.
It is amazing the trouble, loss of productivity, sick days/absenteeism and stress that one bad manager can cause. Big companies just don't seem to get it- until every single person who worked for that manager has resigned, and the manager has been promoted up and on to other things. Ah yes, big business.