A Police Officer Uses The No Asshole Rule as a Weapon Against His Boss

I got a great email the other day about how a police officer used The No Asshole Rule against his boss.  A few identifying facts are removed to protect the innocent and the guilty, but the rest is left untouched.

 I am a Police Officer in Texas. I was given your book by my supervisor to read so we could ”discuss” leadership idea. I thought this was a little odd as I could best describe the leadership style of my boss as – Leadership by oppression. I began to read the book, reluctantly I might add as I believed he was giving me a not so subtle hint, and realized that he had made a colossal mistake. The mistake being that not only could the examples of “assholeness” in the book fit my boss, but it armed me in dealing with him. To be sure, I did learn ways to keep myself in check with the inner asshole that sometimes comes out in my line of work. (You are right, sometimes Police are assholes for a reason.)

The result of reading this book actually had me telling him, in front of eight of my subordinates that I supervise, that his behavior of verbally berating Officers was not acceptable on my shift. I actually said to him “ It’s your fault! You gave me the No Asshole Rule book! “    Boy it felt good.

I am not quite sure how to add this my list of survival tips, although it sounds like this brave officer has taken an effective step to turn his workplace into one that doesn't tolerate assholes -- even ones like his boss who don't seem to realize that they are an asshole.  It reminds me a little of the attorney who displays the book prominently in her office as a hint to her sometimes nasty partners to keep their inner asshole in check with talking with her.

If you have used the book -- either the text of just the cover -- as defensive weapon, I would love to hear your story.

Comments

[Tim Beam]

Bob I read "The No Asshole Rule" a couple of years ago. I am currently unemployed because of an asshole. Mean, overbearing, controlling, and I could go on. Even though I am very bitter I think I will log into my Amazon account and gift your book to her. Reasonable adults can read your book and realize their failings but as we all know most assholes are not reasonable. Keep up the good work and I look forward to the new book.