As promised here is the book review:
The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and
Surviving One That Isn’t
By Robert I.
Sutton PhD.
Published by Warner Business Books
This insightful book written by Robert Sutton, Professor of
Management, Science and Engineering in the Stanford Engineering School, addresses
the critical issue of those people in the workplace that are often referred to
as jerks, bullies, weasels, tormentors, tyrants and unconstrained egomaniacs.
Suttons feels that asshole (a term
cops are very familiar with) best captures the essence of these people.
In the introduction Sutton states:
“I wrote this book because most of us, unfortunately, have
to deal with assholes in our workplace at one time or another. The
No Asshole Rule shows how these destructive characters damage their fellow
human beings and undermine organizational performance. This little book also
shows how to keep these jerks out of your workplace, how to reform those you
are stuck with, how to expel those who can’t or won’t change their ways, and how
to best limit the destruction that these demeaning creeps cause.”
In Chapter 1 What
Assholes Do and Why You know So Many Sutton distinguishes between those
just having a bad day (“temporary assholes”) and the persistent nasty,
destructive jerks in the workplace (“certified assholes”). In this chapter he
provides two tests for detecting assholes:
1. Identify
people who persistently leave others feeling demeaned and de-energized;
2. Look
to see if their victims usually have less power and social standing than their
tormentors.
Sutton also identifies what he calls the ‘Dirty Dozen’:
Common Everyday Actions That Assholes Use. Sutton cites research to show that
this type of person is not restricted to just one type of business or
profession. We all have them.
Chapter 2 The Damage
Done: Why Every Workplace Needs the Rule, examines the impact to people and
productivity in the workplace causes by the bullying behavior of assholes. Based on research from a number of
sources and experience Sutton has created a formula for Total Cost of Assholes
(TCA). He provides a list of factors to consider when calculating the Total
Cost of Assholes to your organization. These costs are a result of lost
productivity, sick time, staff turn over and other factors.
Chapter 3 Implement the
Rule, Enforce It and Keep It Alive, looks at strategies for implementing
the No Asshole Rule. In this chapter he provides some tips and insights
including the fact there may be some value to having a token asshole to remind
people how not to behave and the unpleasant consequences for breaking the rule.
He also cautions “Be Slow to Brand people.” This chapter also addresses the
‘Top Ten Steps For Enforcing The Rule’.
Chapter 4 How to Stop
Your “Inner jerk” from Getting Out is a chance for critical self-reflection.
This chapter is about keeping your “inner jerk” from rearing its ugly head.
Sutton states “If you are an asshole all the time, you need therapy, Prozac,
anger management classes, transcendental meditation, more exercise, or all of
the above.” The chapter however is targeted at the rest of us who can turn
caustic and cruel under certain conditions. He provides tips on “How to Avoid
Asshole Poisoning“ in the workplace. He also identifies that to avoid acting like or becoming a known
asshole, know thyself and Admitting
You’re an Asshole is The First Step.
Chapter 5 – When Assholes Reign: Tips for Surviving Nasty
people and Workplaces. In this chapter Sutton offers strategies for dealing
with customers, peers, bosses and workplaces where the “pro asshole rule”
rather than the “no asshole rule” prevails.
Chapter 6: The Virtues of Assholes – Sutton writes “But I’ve
become convinced that it’s naïve to assume that assholes always do more harm than good. So this chapter is devoted to the
upside of assholes.” Sutton adds a caution “Beware, however, that these ideas
are volatile and dangerous: they provide the ammunition that deluded and
destructive jerks can use to justify, and even glorify, their penchant for
demeaning others.”
Two of the key sub plots of this chapter are:
·
Do You Want to Be an Effective Asshole: 5 key
Lessons
·
Why Assholes Fool Themselves: are you Suffering
From Delusions of Effectiveness?
Chapter 7: The No Asshole Rule as a Way of Life. Sutton
starts this chapter with a funny story about the first time he head about a
book on asshole. He goes on to expand on seven key lessons from the book:
1. A
few demeaning creeps can overwhelm the warm feelings generated by hoards of
civilized people.
2. Talking
about the rule is nice, but following up on it is what really matters.
3. The
rule lives- or dies- in the little moments.
4. Should
you keep a few assholes around?
5. Enforcing
the no assholes rule isn’t just management’s job.
6. Embarrassment
and pride are powerful motivators.
7. Assholes
are us.
This book has been on my must read list for some time. There
are assholes in every field including law enforcement. Sometimes we work for
them, sometimes they work for us, sometimes we work with them, and (most
importantly to recognize from a training standpoint) sometimes we are the
assholes. All of these scenarios
are less desirable situations for our officers, our families and our own health
and well being. This book provides
strategies for dealing with all these scenarios.
Take care.
P.S. Just a reminder there is still room on the Excellence in Training and Verbal Trauma Control Courses in Lake Oswego, Oregon November 16 to 20 and in Edmonton, Alberta November 30 to December 4.
E-mail me at winningmind@mac.com for details.
Brian Willis
Winning Mind Training
www.winningmindtraining.com
Warrior Spirit Books - The Home of 'Must Read' books including W.I.N. Volumes 1 and 2
www.warriorspiritbooks.com
