We are deeply hierarchical beings but this is our own blindspot and we don’t view ourselves this way – One of the main idea of Elephant in the Brain
Good in hierarchies
When imagining hierarchy one can imagine one hierarchy for all. But what if there are multitude of independent hierarchy systems. By being selective a person amplify cultures, solutions, approaches that they value. This is like creating separated chambers for experimentation. In that case praising somebody a person respects is less off an act of exclusion, or a way to climb the ladder and more proposing, building a new approach to solving things.