Robert I. Sutton has written and produced a book with the attention gathering title of "The No Asshole Rule" explaining how to build a civilized workplace and how to survive in one that isn't. Whether you call the person an ass, jackass, jerk, or asshole, we can easily recognize such a person because they seem to have no regard for the people they work with, especially their subordinates or peers that they perceive as being beneath them in the pecking order. They are probably the number one reason people quit otherwise good jobs. And often, they aren't even mentioned in the termination interviews for fear of retribution.
Like many other management books, this one has a couple of great ideas packaged with attention-getting verbal appeal. But Sutton doesn't seem to know when to stop. He describes what a workplace asshole looks like then describes him again, then tells us how much trouble he is, then describes him again, then describes him in a different context, etc. You get the idea. And the author also takes us on little side trips like the fact that each of us is an asshole at times and the idea that having a token asshole in an organization may actually be better than not having one at all as the token asshole is then a good example of the dreaded species.
The book is already short but it could be made better, shorter, and more to the point. Nevertheless, I would highly recommend this book.
His 'side trip' goes against some of his other ideas (e.g. most people leave otherwise good jobs due to ass-holes). One wise manager once said, I'd rather have a hole (e.g. an open position) than an ass-hole).
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I've always felt I'd rather have an open position because it's much easier to eliminate (by hiring) than an asshole is. And I've found that good examples of bad behavior are still abundant in the best of environments. I don't think he made a really good case for the token asshole.
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