The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn't

The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn't | Robert I. Sutton | Well done, and a quick read!

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The No Asshole Rul...

	The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn't Robert I. Sutton Business Plus, 2007 - 224 pages average customer review:based on 112 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

The Definitive Survival Guide For Dealing With A Holes

Robert Sutton's The No A Hole Rule is a "must have" for everyone who
encounters people on a daily basis. The A holes are all around us, and they
are not giving up their grip on society anytime soon.

Sutton has written the definitive guide for recognizing and dealing with their covert (and overt) ways. He describes who they are (they may not even know), tells of their nasty deeds (which you may not even realize), and how to best respond to these toxic people.

You will, no doubt, read about people you know in The No A hole Rule, You may even read about yourself.

But never fear, not only does Sutton describe how to best handle A holes, he gives perhaps even more valuable advice, on how not to become one. We often can get so caught up in defending ourselves from A-holes, that we don't even realize that we have become that which we despise (You can take the self-test: Are You a Certified A Hole?).

If, upon taking the quiz, you do find out that you are, indeed an A hole, he has some advice. Admitting you're an A hole is the first step.

He talks about companies who have put in place a "No A hole Rule" due to
lost productivity. This is a very wise policy, considering the damage A hole poisoning can cause. He calls this the TCA (Total Cost of A holes). He gives real-life examples and success stories that we can find inspiration and encouragement from.

This is a fantastically witty and educational book, which is bound to bring a newfound awareness to the biggest problem hindering our productivity. A holes.

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Well done, and a quick read!

As a person who was diagnosed with PTSD after three years of near-constant harassment, I found this book very heartening. It is filled with common sense and offers a clear-eyed look at just how many damaging ripple effects, both inside and outside a company, emanate from workplace bullies.

My former manager quickly burned through one scapegoat after another until I came along; I lasted as long as I did because I had low self-esteem, desperately needed the money, and because working 60-70 hour weeks gave me little time or energy to find something else. Since leaving, I have reflected on how much my manager actually cost the company; Bob vividly illustrates the damage a bully can inflict to an employer as well as to co-workers and customers. By the time I quit my job, I knew my department's products, procedures, and tools thoroughly, had streamlined many processes, was highly regarded by other employees and by customers, and had proven time and again to be a smart, productive, conscientious, reliable employee. It cost a bundle to replace me--and my replacement lasted less than a year. Obviously, the higher-ups weren't paying attention.

To those who characterize me and other targets of bullying as "whiners," I will say that when a company refuses to divest itself of people who are costing it and its shareholders money, who are driving its best talent away, and who are ultimately damaging its reputation, maybe it's time to start listening to the "whiners" after all. At my old company, morale was in the toilet--so much so that the company finally comissioned an anonymous "employee satisfaction" survey to find out why turnover and absenteeism due to illness were so high. When the results came in, I overheard a discussion between two managers. "I think," said one, "that we have a bunch of crybabies here." "You got that right," said the other.

When managers have an attitude like that, what do they expect? You reap what you sow. Listen to Bob--he knows what he's talking about!

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This author is right on the money

As a female consultant who's worked in the corporate world for 25 years this author is right on the money. I've always felt that fair treatment in the workforce is just as important as salary.

I've probably worked at over 100 companies. The @#$holes seem to permeate our workforce in abundance. What bothers me is how corporate managers bury their head under the sand like an ostrich and ignore the problem.

When the ***hole is a division chief, CFO or some other higher level position, HR as a whole tends to minimize his/her bullying behavior. It's easier for them to let a lower paid worker go, than to call these bullies on their behavior.

I personally won't stand for it. I always make sure I have plenty of money saved in my bank account in case I'm working with a bully that no one wants to deal with.

9 years ago I worked with a bully who chased off 5 secretaries. I finally quit as I almost had a breakdown. He's still there. I cannot fathom why. This company has paid out numerous dollars in lawsuits over stress claims. I had to leave a good job with great benefits, he's still there being coddled. It makes me ill.

Companies must come to the conclusion that these bullies need to be fired, period. If they cannot control their tempers or their behavior they need to go and take some anger management classes. Bullying is controlled behavior. The bullies tend to pick on those they feel are a little more timid or "need" their job.

I personally think these bullies and Corporate ***holes act like punks who literally need their butt kicked sometimes.

There are some great websites on bullying. Women on women seem to be the worst bullying issue. Women who bully others are usually jealous of the other woman's popularity with the other co-workers, her intelligence or her looks. Women can be so mean in the workforce, they really can, while men can be really violate as well.

Until corporate America sees this as a serious issue, just as serious as sexual harrassment and racial bias, it will continue. These ***holes get away with because their allowed to.

Life is too short and too precious to slave away at a job where you're mistreated.

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Practical and useful

A** are all over the place and sometimes within us too. But, this is a book which sheds light on the inveterate A** who pollute the work environment with their plain meanness and selfish attitude, among other things. And this is not just one of the many management babble books. It's grounded in reality, practical, looks at the issue from various perspectives, provides useful and applicable suggestions.

Recommended for anyone who had to deal with jerks and A** in the workplace at any point of time and are at their wit's end to figure a way out to deal with it. And as the author mentions, if you are truly tired of living in jerk city - if you don't want to feel like walking down assh* avenue everyday, this book will be a fun and useful read.

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Common Sense Dressed in Modern Business Context

With anecdotes I could relate with, and very little hard numbers, this book is more of resonator than a roadmap. While I liked it well enough, it didn't tell me anything my Grandma hasn't said for years.

Be nice. Respect others. With the exception of super-competent geniuses, a collected group of friends engaged in teamwork accomplishes more than people who don't like each other working together.

It wasn't all fluff, I did learn. Negativity requires five times as many positive moments to off set in productivity, according to documented psychological studies cited by the book. Asshole-like behavior perpetuates; assholes will hire other assholes, and train other people (inadvertently, by example) to be assholes. In fact, having a non-promoted token semi-asshole is the best way to discourage general assholery. S/He provides the bad example everyone else learns not to emulate.

The chapter on defense was basically: suck it up and imagine you aren't there by shifting perspective, take small insignificant victories to reduce your stress level, or quit. I'd hoped for more.

In summation, the book covers the topic overview well, but without depth. The cost-benefit analysis of employing assholes is touched on, but not developed. Embarrassment is recommended as an asshole damper, but no way to reform a brilliant asshole into a decent human being is given. I'd heard the advice before, and I'd recommend it to people who grew up without a diligent work ethic being drummed into them by their family.

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