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"In fact, I think that people who focus more on the political aspect of their careers tend to be more successful than people who actually do the useful research
by maxxxxx 8y ago
"In fact, I think that people who focus more on the political aspect of their careers tend to be more successful than people who actually do the useful research work."
That's unfortunately the case also outside research. You can have a very good career if you only focus on politics and nothing else.
- kinleyd 8y agoHow much of the successful 'politics' would you say is actually sycophancy?
- ekianjo 8y agoFlattering is not enough. You need to also actively undermine your competitors to be successful at politics.
- barry-cotter 8y agoIf you want to get promoted it really helps to figure out a way to make your boss look good.
- throwaway8879 8y agoIsn't that the first law in the book '48 Laws of Power'?
- qubax 8y agoThat's the case in all organizations - academic, government, business, military, charity, etc. You can get your foot in the door by being competent. If you want to rise within any organization, you either have to know someone or you have to be great at office politics. People naively think the hardest or best workers move up the ladder. No, you want the hardest and best workers working. You want them in the trenches. You want people with contacts or people you like promoted. Whether we like it or not, success in life has a lot more to do with relationships than competence or merit. Who you know, who your family knows and who your friends knows matters far more than what you know.