Publishers Weekly Review

                                                                                                                        

The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn't Sutton, Robert I. (Author) ISBN: 0446526568 Warner Business Published 2007-02 Hardcover, $22.99 (224p) Business & Economics | Business Etiquette; Business & Economics | Business Life - General Reviewed 2006-12-18 PW

This meticulously researched book, which grew from a much buzzed-about article in the Harvard Business Review, puts into plain language an undeniable fact: the modern workplace is beset with assholes. Sutton (Weird Ideas that Work), a professor of management science at Stanford University, argues that assholes-those who deliberately make co-workers feel bad about themselves and who focus their aggression on the less powerful-poison the work environment, decrease productivity, induce qualified employees to quit and therefore are detrimental to businesses, regardless of their individual effectiveness. He also makes the solution plain: they have to go. Direct and punchy, Sutton uses accessible language and a bevy of examples to make his case, providing tests to determine if you are an asshole (and if so, advice for how to self-correct), a how-to guide to surviving environments where assholes freely roam and a carefully calibrated measure, the "Total Cost of Assholes," by which corporations can assess the damage. Although occasionally campy and glib, Sutton's work is sure to generate discussions at watercoolers around the country and deserves influence in corporate hiring and firing strategies. (Feb.)                                        

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Comments

[Bob Sutton]

Dave,

Thanks and you have a good point. Jeff Pfeffer's 1998 book Human Equation makes a strong, evidence-based, case for treating employees as valuable and appreciating assets as you put it. And the evidence in support of his case has become stronger since. I'll put it on my list.

[dblwyo]

Bob,

Couldn't ask for more than that. Be interesting to see if Economist/ WSJ/NYT pick it up as it clearly deserves to be. Congratulations.

Frankly though I'm waiting for the follow-on work on management system design and operation designed to treat employees as valuable and appreciating assets. As opposed to fungible commodities.

Dave Livingston