Here's how you can navigate a boss who plays favorites in a consulting job.

Don’t underestimate this! It’s very common bosses chooses those who always agrees with them. Why? If boss is insecure they need someone to make them feel comfortable. Hence they promote those that can’t pose challenge to them. Imagine a situation. Your boss is less educated than you, has outdated knowledge & less experience than you. He will see you as threat and will try to show he is (in investment banking they coined term “biggest swinging d*ck”) the most important. Favourite tactic is find less competent nice person that will never challenge them and build using them protective wall around boss. It’s similar to chess he does it so he can hide behind it. Rest depends on luck if he loses important RFP he likely will not survive.

Navigating a boss who plays favorites can be challenging, but here’s my approach. I’d stay professional and avoid gossip, focusing instead on excelling at my job and letting my work speak for itself. Communication is key, so I’d discuss my goals with my boss and seek feedback. Building strong relationships with colleagues and mentors can provide additional support. I’d document my successes to have a clear record of my achievements. Staying positive and resilient is crucial, and if the situation becomes unmanageable, I’d explore other opportunities within or outside the company.

Play the long game, stay off toxic politics. Observe and consider if you have tainted opinions or optics. Be tactful and stay neutral Assess if you are biased or have made unfair assessments. Many a times, we are too fast to judge

Take a step back and detach yourself emotionally from the situation. It is important to ensure that personal feelings do not cloud your judgment. Focus on gathering facts and evidence to support your observations. Keep a detailed record of instances where favoritism is evident, noting specific situations, decisions, and interactions that may be impacting your work or career progression. Once you are confident in your observations, it is important to have an open and honest conversation with your manager. Express your concerns and seek clarity on the situation. Approach the conversation with respect and avoid making accusations. It is important to communicate your feelings in a professional and constructive manner.

Retain impartiality while identifying favouritism by evaluating the circumstances calmly. Make the distinction between perception and reality in order to properly address legitimate issues. Keep an eye on interactions over time and record any instances of bias. This method makes it possible to comprehend exactly how it affects work dynamics and career advancement. Prioritise information collecting over placing blame in order to facilitate strategic decision-making.

I have found that remaing professional and sticking to your work ethic helps . Good work speaks for itself and the author . Keep a positive attitude and making sure you are not drawn into play politics can also help.

It's human nature to play politics. The best answer is not to get drawn into it. This will take a lot of self-control and equanimity. don't react to provocation. don't defend. let your work do the talking. I know, easier said than done. But we've all gone through it. There will be short term problems. But at the end of it, you will come out better and the best part? You'd have earned the respect of others in your organization.

In my experience staying professional gives a character to your image in long run which may be challenging in short run but pays off

Professionals should behave professionally whenever there is a work. Consultants are professionals. So whenever there is agree to disagree between consultants, must respect the others view. This view must be explained by the one who explored abt it. Then should discuss peacefully and find the final decision. If did not respect his view and getting laugh, discriminate and gossip will not get the true advice for the problem.

Politics exist everywhere. You can be principled and balanced by trying not to get drawn into it. This will take self-control and resist the temptation to overreact. Let your work do the talking to earn the respect of the vast majority in your company

In my experience situations like this were very empowering, I always took those circumstances as an opportunity to grow further in my career and always moved forward with positive attitude!

Upskill yourself. Let your performance do the talking. If you are well-researched about a project and clearly understand the nuances, it is difficult for the biased boss to overlook your expertise. At the same time, use all opportunities to showcase your skill sets.

El mercado laboral es muy dinámico y demanda que estemos actualizándonos constantemente. Invertir en tu formación académica te aporta una plusvalía enorme. Como dijo Ceneca.. la suerte es donde confluyen la oportunidad y la preparación.

Networking is a silver bullet. Especially in this case, where you're suffering favouritism against you. But keep in mind that you have to network genuinely for the sake of it - to convey your value, understand and get to really know people and the org - not as a parachute out of a burning plane.

Apart from all mentioned above, I feel when you collaborate and work in a friendly environment then you enjoy your work and one has that feeling of working in family kind of environment. That sense of ownership and leadership is always there and everyone leads a life of fulfilment.

I think everyone needs a person who can guide and help on taking tuff calls in their life & office. Everyone looks for that mentor on their life and I think selection of that mentor is very critical because it can make or break you. So, SELF REALISATION IS THE BEST THING to do that, and listen to your inner voice!

El mentor es como el nitro de un lujoso carro, cuando lo necesitas te ofrece un impulso extra que te acerca a tus metas. Pero como todo nitro de un carro, si lo usas se disminuye su capacidad y tendrás que volverlo a cargar, a lo que voy, es que si bien es muy importante tener un mentor, es aún más ofrecerle algo para que siempre esté contigo cuando lo necesites. Por ejemplo, agradecimiento, mostrar que lo que el hace por ti se pueda ver reflejado en algo inspirador para seguir ayudandote.

Tact isn't everyone's cup of tea. So if your personality supports it, absolutely go for it. Have a 1:1, talk about your work, accomplishments, ask for guidance, mentoring, coaching, perspectives, opinions, even help. Make them know that their success is important to you (their "what's in it for me?", unfortunately). See the response. If it's still ambiguous or cold, stop wasting time and continue building your career assets .. knowledge, expertise, business acumen. And grit it out for a few months or another year. Nothing lasts forever

Although, I'm the wrong person to speak on tact, I admire those with the ability to say difficult things without damaging self-worth or relationships. This is what I've noted from observing them and am trying to practice: 1. Say nothing. That itself is the most tactful way of saying, "Really? have you thought this one through?" I've noticed this actually works best, getting people to make the necessary change. 2. Get the proposer to present pros and cons. Illumination usually happens. 3. Agree. Express the worst outcome possible. Ask what's the plan for it. In attempting this, the original strategy gets redrawn. 4. Involve a third person who can punch holes. Here's where I usually come in.

Favoritism is the biggest destroyer of teams, like teachers, bosses should not have favorites. Favoritism is a killer of confidence. By having favorites you are refuting some qualities of good leaders and should not be in that position. Allocate work equitable Have one on one's with all employees Reward and recognize all Where you have to address behavioral challenges, don't do it infront of everybody and certainly don't go around telling everyone in the office. Always remember that All employees are equal and are there to do a job. To navigate, schedule a One-on-one with the manager, inform him or her how you feel but you must have facts so that they can see how & when the made you feel like they liked John better than Jane.

Firstly, unless you are in the initial couple of years into your career, accept that the workplace is a human system, just like family, but without the automatic bonding of blood relationships and emotional investments that come with family. So it is highly likely that at least once in your career, you will meet favouritism. Accept, but don't succumb. Because this, too, shall pass .. and if you waste too much time moping, you will feel silly 3 years down when everything's changed and looking great Meantime: 1) Keep improving. Keep learning. So the boss isn't your only hope for growth. 2) Plug away at work and notch up wins. That counts for more in the long run. 3) See if your boss is open to change. But don't sweat it

I sense an urge to transcendend a pivotal reference to the section of professional continuity at all times. What else to consider A.B.C - Always Be Close to your own opportunity ladder by integrity, which is no less than integral in all aspects of individual sustainability. Impeccable judgement is key previously to even consider pursuing a highly sensitive matter as this - as your boss's own prestige & wrongdoings is questioned. Most people in power might have a covert agenda of various unknowns to enable his/her own opportunities or disabling whatever perceptions of issues in achieving this agenda. Robustness of evidence which translates into your performance of objectivity, inpartial appearance and stealthness in documentation.