PROFESSOR ROB SUTTON'S LESSON SUMMARISED

1. The rule of avoiding working with, or hiring, jerks is adopted by many organizations to avoid disharmony in the workplace.

2. You shouldn’t allow staff to get away with anti-social or ‘oddball’ behavior, as such behavior is likely to cause office conflict.

3. There is an argument for allowing just one ‘asshole’ in your office based on deviance studies. These cite that the presence of one such individual leaves everybody else is better off, as they see how not to behave.

4. There will be situations in your working life when it may be necessary to be indifferent and learn not to care.

More video lessons by Professor Rob Sutton can be found at Fifty Lessons and cwerty (registration required). Harvard Business School Press and Fifty Lessons have teamed up to produce three books based on the lessons; Managing your Career, Managing Change and Leading by Example.

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