How to Win Your Boss’s Favor and Grow Your Career

There are two ways to work in an organisation.
Either you can focus on your skill set and talent and come up,
or you can become the favourite of the boss and come up.

This is a reality. We know this.
Many people who have come up in their career have done so simply by being the favourite of the boss, the master — not because of their capability.
There are many pet names within the organisation for such people, but most people are scared of them also.
They are ridiculed, looked down upon, but at the same time they are powerful also.

These shlokas from Pancha Tantra enumerate what it is that they do — what they have to do — for getting into this position.
See the clarity of thought of our acharyas — how they looked at and analyzed each and every thing, each and every situation.
The principles they have given us, the ideas they have given us, the clarity they have given is of eternal value.

Why do people do this? Two reasons — one, they lack talent and skills.
Two — this is the shortcut, the easier way.

अप्रधानः प्रधानः स्यात् सेवते यदि पार्थिवम्
प्रधानोपि अप्रधानः स्यात् यदि सेवाविवर्जितः

By doing seva of the boss, the apradhana can also become pradhana, the undeserving can also become important.
Is this justified? But we are not talking about dharma and justice here.
We are only talking about a reality of the world.

This has another side — even if you are good, if you are not in the good books of the boss, then you could be ignored.
And the easiest way to enter into the good books of the boss is seva of the boss.

This has a reason. Why are bosses like this?

आसन्नमेव नृपतिर्भजते मनुष्यं
विद्याविहीनं अकुलीनं असंस्कृतं वा
प्रायेण भूमिपतयः प्रमदाः लताश्च
यत्पार्श्वतो भवति तत् परिवेष्टयन्ति

This is a characteristic not just of bosses. Most women are like this. The creeper plants are also like this.
Bosses and women in general like those who are near them, move about them, are physically around them.

By women, what is meant here are the women of olden days — they liked those who were willing to listen to them, those who were willing to hear their problems.
Anyone who is willing to listen and nod head —
‘Oh, what gross injustice! How do you stand all these?’ — women of olden days liked such people.

Women of today, I don’t know. But bosses have hardly changed.
They like those who move about them physically.

I have come across drivers and attendant boys of the big man in huge organisations who are much more powerful than a VP, or a P, or a GM.
This is a fact.
They can give you a ticket directly into the heart of the top man.

This is being compared to a creeper plant which will wrap around anything that is close enough — doesn’t matter whether it is a pole, a strong tree, or another creeper itself.
The only factor that is important is that it should be close by.

In the same way, the boss is not bothered about the antecedents of the person, talent of the person, or knowledge of the person.

कोपप्रसादवस्तूनि ये विचिन्वन्ति सेवकाः
आरोहन्ति शनैः पश्चाद्धुन्वन्तमपि पार्थिवम्

But don’t think these people are totally dumb and do not have any skill.
They have one big skill that all others lack.
They keep on observing — what annoys the boss and what pleases the boss.
They make a list, a mental list. They keep on avoiding everything that can annoy the boss.
They do everything that pleases the boss.

The shloka says — if you keep on doing this, you can conquer the most unpredictable of bosses, the most irrational of bosses, bosses with the most arbitrary behaviour.
This is the only strategy needed — you can take any boss on your side.
Do what pleases him. Do not do what annoys him.

ये च प्राहुर्दुरात्मानः दुराराध्या महीभुजः
प्रमाद – आलस्य – जाड्यानि ख्यापितानि निजानि तैः

If someone says —
‘No, this boss cannot be influenced. He is so straight, so impartial, so intelligent, so smart,’
then that person is only revealing his own lethargy, laziness, and stupidity.

सर्पान् व्याघ्रान् गजान् सिंहान् दृष्टोपायैर्वशीकृतान्
राजेति कियती मात्रा धीमतामप्रमादिनाम्

Even venomous snakes, tigers, elephants, lions — with effort and right approach, they can be controlled.
Boss is just a man.

So what are the dos and don'ts if you want to take this route to success?

राजमातरि देव्यां च कुमारे मुख्यमन्त्रिणि
पुरोहिते प्रतीहारे सदा वर्तेत राजवत्

Behave with the mother of the boss just as you would behave with him.
Behave with the wife of your boss just as you would behave with him.
Behave with the children of your boss just as you would behave with him.
The boss may have other confidantes also — he may have a GM whom he trusts.
With him also, behave in the same way as you would behave with your boss.
Not just powerful people — he may have a driver who is very close to him.
Behave with him in the same way as you would behave with your boss.
Don't try to compete with any of these people. You will end up hurting yourself.

जीवेति प्रब्रुवन्प्रोक्तः कृत्याकृत्यविचक्षणः
करोति निर्विकल्पं यः स भवेद्राजवल्लभः

Simply follow the boss’s orders. Never ever question his wisdom.
You may know that he is telling the most stupid thing to do — but never question, just obey.

प्रभुप्रसादजं वित्तं सुप्राप्तं यो निवेदयेत्
वस्त्राद्यं च दधत्यङ्गे स भवेद्राजवल्लभः

Every time the boss obliges you with a favour or gives you something, express your gratitude — every single time.
What he is giving you is not your birthright. It is out of turn, undeserving — so you have to go on motivating him with your gratitude.

अन्तःपुरचरैः सार्धं यो न मन्त्रं समाचरेत्
न कलत्रैर्नरेन्द्रस्य स भवेद्राजवल्लभः ॥

Just as you don’t advise the boss, also don’t try to advise his mother, wife, or children.
Just do their seva.

द्यूतं यो यमदूताभं हालां हालाहलोपमाम्
पश्येद्दारान्वृथाकारान्स भवेद्राजवल्लभः

The beautiful women of the boss’s household — they are poison for you.
Never ever look at them with the wrong eye. Just do their seva.

युद्धकालेऽग्रणीर्यः स्यात्सदा पृष्ठानुगः पुरे
प्रभोर्द्वाराश्रितो हर्म्ये स भवेद्राजवल्लभः

In dangerous situations — say there is a mob on the road, you have to cross them — be ahead of him, protect him.
At other times, walk behind him.
At the boss’s home, your place is at the door — not in the living room.

द्वेषिद्वेषपरो नित्यमिष्टानामिष्टकर्मकृत
यो नरो नरनाथस्य स भवेद्राजवल्लभः

Whoever is your boss’s enemy — he is also your enemy.
Whoever is on your boss’s side — they are good for you also.

प्रोक्तः प्रत्युत्तरं नाह विरुद्धं प्रभुणा च यः
न समीपे हसत्युच्चैः स भवेद्राजवल्लभः

Never back-answer your boss.
Never laugh aloud in the presence of your boss. That is disrespect.
You can appreciate the jokes — but the laughter should be controlled.

Develop upon these ideas.
There will be umpteen situations day to day.
These ideas will enable you to handle them.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi