sycophant

Vocabulary Word

Definition

A 'sycophant' is someone who overly praises or flatters someone in authority, often to gain personal advantage. It's not just respecting authority, it's going beyond to please them for personal gain.

Examples in Different Contexts

In corporate settings, 'sycophants' might seek promotions through flattery. A manager might caution, 'Being a sycophant won't guarantee career advancement; genuine competence will.'

Practice Scenarios

Business

Scenario:

It's important to appreciate good work, however, we should also be able to constructively criticize when necessary. Flattery won't help us improve our service quality.

Response:

Agreed, we should acknowledge good performance but not become sycophants. We should encourage critical and honest feedback.

Leadership

Scenario:

Earning a promotion should come from merit and performance, not insincere pains-taking flattery. We need a fair assessment system for future leadership roles.

Response:

In leadership decisions, sycophancy should hold no ground. Potential leaders should be chosen based on their performance and credibility.