Flattery, an art.

Just imagine this scene:

                     A meeting of senior officers is in progress. The meeting is  chaired by the Head of the Department.In the midst of the meeting the H.O.D. tells a senior officer,"I have severe headache. Can I have a cup of  tea? I will proceed after ten minutes." A lady  officer gets up from her seat and walks out. Within five minutes she returns with a bottle of oil in her hand and tells the H.O.D."Sir, you work so hard.I have got some almond oil.I will apply it on your head. You will feel better. " Without waiting for any response, she opens the bottle and starts massaging his head in front of the whole assembly.All those who were present there were stunned. They were all smiling behind their bags/files and enjoying the drama of showmanship  between the boss and the subordinate.What was this? Undiluted flattery. 

              Well flattery is an art which everyone cannot  master. At the same time we find this 'tribe' every where. It is a universally accepted fact that people like to be praised.Generally people are self centred and  like people who pamper them. Thus the population of this tribe is increasing. Specially in an office you will find them in plenty. I have seen a person, who I can name ,'maha dullard'  but a  very 'good worker' in the opinion of the senior because he does multifarious jobs ,like depositing the electricity,water and telephone bills of the boss. He will buy fruits and vegetables on the orders of Mrs. Boss. Sample another  'genius' of this tribe. Every Monday he will deliver fresh  fruits and vegetables to the  boss, with a statement,"These are fresh from our fields in my village." Every one in the office knows that he purchases them from the 'mandi'!!Can you beat this?
                          Another 'variety' is there  who will always please you by  frequently giving you 'gifts' on  any pretext.  "Ma'am, You were wearing a beautiful dress yesterday.I have got a matching purse for you". You cannot shrug away  such flatterers.Some interesting characters will  do odd jobs in the residence of the boss.They will take his children to the school and bring them back, pay their school fees. If the bathroom tap is leaking, the kitchen  pipe is blocked or the A/C is not working ,Mrs. Boss summons them to get the job done. Such  characters will boast in an assembly  that they have a direct approach to the boss and can  get any work done by the boss.These sycophants will  make you feel important. After all who does not like to be praised!
   It is very difficult to shun these characters I quote the words of Machiavelli, "Men are so complacent in their own affairs and so willing to deceive themselves,that they are rescued with great difficulty from this pest," Some  people like to be flattered. You must understand that a person who flatters you is trying to deceive you or has already deceived you.
Have you come across this breed? What was your experience?