Someone once asked a Washington insider how to deal with important people whom you cant stand. His reply? You put on your respectful face and you dont blink. This strategy is known in business circles as kissing the ring. Its origins lie in a much earlier era, when royalty and clerics wore rings of office denoting their status. Bowing your head as you kissed their rings was how you showed respect for their office, while not necessarily feeling that sentiment towards the characters themselves.

Why go to the trouble to show deference to someone you dont personally like or respect? In the cut and thrust world of business, as in the political sphere, its all about survival. Or, to look at it more positively, enlightened self-interest. Like it or not, the business world is structured by a strong sense of hierarchy. Why else would we be so fixated on gaining promotions and better titles? Those high up can have a significant impact upon your reputation and career: positive if they like you and see you playing by the rules, negative if they feel slighted by you in some way. Showing them the appropriate respect helps keep your career path obstacle free.

Kissing the ring might mean responding in a neutral to positive way when someone important says something off base in a meeting. Or staying positive with your boss when he or she doesnt understand what youre trying to do or say. However irritated or amazed you feel, keep your facial expression kind and free of negativity, a kind of poker face. Its worth practicing this in front of the mirror so that its ready to put on when you need it.

Kissing the ring doesnt mean being sycophantic though. Its just about treading carefully around egos. Theres nothing wrong with telling a senior person that you think there might be a better way of doing things, but just make sure that you think strategically and dont react there and then, especially if there are others present. If you are genuinely concerned about something you might want to bring it up in private in a neutral way but not make a big deal out of it. You do this by talking about it in a low-key way, tactfully introducing your point by saying, By the way, what do you think of or, Is there is a case to be made for this other point of view?

Are there dont kiss the ring moments too? You bet. As soon as anything looks the slightest bit immoral or illegal you need to stop and think. Dont jump to conclusions, but once youve confirmed that something improper is up, do everything you can to extricate yourself from the situation before you get into trouble. If, for example, your company requires that the highest level person at a dinner should pick up the expenses then you might hesitate before paying for something so that your boss doesnt have to put it on his or her expense report. While illegality is something that you should always report, without exception. There are ex-employees of Enron or Health South, currently in jail, who probably wish they had spoken up, or even left their jobs, rather than keeping mum.

Kissing the ring is one of a repertoire of respectful behaviors that will serve you in good stead with high ranking people. At some point in your career you will have to suck in your gut and show deference to a senior person whom you cant stand. Be prepared for it.