As I mentioned yesterday, I try at least once a month to challenge myself with an opinion so opposite mine that it will force me to see the world in a completely different way. Here is a prime example of what I'm talking about.
When I first noticed the book The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn’t, I rolled my eyes. I was in an airport bookstore looking for something to read on a short business trip, and the book looked like it represented everything that drives me crazy about modern management guides. First, it had a title so calculated and brazen it was clearly designed to sell copies. Second, it seemed to endorse the popular idea that we need a “kinder, gentler corporate world” and I’m someone who admires toughness and brutal clarity on the job. Judging the book by its cover, the book was not my cup of tea. Naturally, I picked it up and boarded the plane.
I have to admit that the author, Robert I. Sutton, makes some pretty valid points. His main hypothesis revolves around the concept that rude, demeaning behavior is demoralizing to a workforce and negatively impacts productivity. Surely no one can argue with that. Sutton also displays research to support that negativity and bullying are far more contagious than support or kindness and therefore a serious danger in the workplace. I found that I didn’t so much disagree with the book's position -- I just think that most of these ideas are common sense.
I was glad to find that Sutton also found room for a few chapters that highlighted the necessity of occasional strong or aggressive behavior in the workplace. The inclusion of this information showed an open-mindedness that many topical writers avoid.
Overall, the book fell a little flat for me. As I turned the final page, I couldn’t help but feel that I’d been the victim of insidious marketing. Based on the eye-popping title, I thought I was going to get a gloves-off, committed endorsement of leaving tough love behind. What I got instead was a fairly middle-of-the-road collection of common-sense concepts I could have explored for a lot less than $22.99, but with a really zippy title.
If you’re someone with a complete jerk of a boss, or work in a highly venomous work culture, this book might help you. It does contain some solid examples of how to deal with these kinds of situations without losing your sense of self. Similarly, if you are someone fighting your own tendency to be a complete jerk, the book helps you see the world through the victim’s eyes and offers tips on how to, well, not be an asshole.
However, if you’re looking for a revolutionary idea or even a book that’s a challenging read with a few “a-ha” moments, leave The No Asshole Rule on the shelf. Even though the book is a quick read, I’d personally have rather had the two hours of my life back. Then again, it’s possible I’m just an asshole.
