FLATTERING A BOSS CAN SET HIM UP FOR A FALL

A 1-standard-deviation increase in the amount of flattery and ingratiatory agreement that CEOs receive raises their likelihood of being fired by 64%. Flattery inflates leaders’ opinions of their abilities and prevents them from making changes in the face of poor corporate performance. Over a 12-month period, colleagues and close subordinates admitted making an average of 3.64 statements to CEOs complimenting them in ways that slightly exaggerated the leaders’ insight on strategic issues.

Harvard Business Review
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