If you think that the success of your career only depends on your education, skills, experience and talent, then you have a lot more thinking to do. In the real world, there are a lot of factors that can scuttle your success.
One of them is people, particularly the sycophant or brown noses in the office. There will be such people in the workplace and since you're not the boss, you will have no control as to their presence in your workplace.
But you can certainly manage or deal with him. You need to because he might be in the way of your success, or he might get promoted to a position that you are more qualified to handle. Here are some suggestions.
1. Assess how sycophantic your workplace is
You can witness this when the boss suddenly comes around. More often than not, the mood of sycophants will change readily. But watch how your boss responds to them.
If it seems that your boss likes the adulation he receives from such people, then you know how sycophantic the atmosphere in your office is. Now, it is up to you to adjust to the scene if you want to be promoted, or seek another employment if you are averse to such practices.
2. Understand that if you don't practice it, you'll be regarded as an oddball
If there is somebody in your office who seems to cater to the whims of the supervisor or the boss, then you need to adjust your behavior. It doesn't mean that you go overboard and be more sycophantic than him. But you must avoid putting yourself on the spot by speaking against him in front of everybody - especially if all of them, to some degree, are practicing it.
3. It's a dog-eat-dog in the real word so be prepared
Naivety will get you nowhere in this dog-eat-dog world. It doesn't mean you should participate in a bad practice that you detest but it means protecting yourself from its consequences.
