I just started reading “The No Asshole Rule,” by Robert Sutton.  The title immediately captured my attention.  Even in my 30s, an unexpectedly placed swearword makes me laugh.  As silly as the title might seem, the content of this book is incredible! 

Let’s think about this for a moment. All of us have had experiences working with people who are, for lack of a better phrase, A-holes. Now, dig a little deeper with me? What do these A-holes have in common? Are you noticing a pattern as you reflect on these less than desirable colleagues/clients/customers’ personality traits and general attitudes in the workplace? 

According to Sutton, a certifiable A-hole is someone who demonstrates the following, every-day actions:

• Personal insults
• Invading one’s “personal territory”
• Uninvited physical contact
• Threats and intimidation, both verbal and nonverbal
• “Sarcastic jokes” and “teasing” used as insult delivery systems
• Withering e-mail flames
• Status slaps intended to humiliate their victims
• Public shaming or “status degradation” rituals
• Rude interruptions
• Two-faced attacks
• Dirty looks
• Treating people as if they were invisible

Okay, so now all of us are on the same page and have a vivid imagine in our mind of what the certifiable A-hole looks like. Out of all of the actions listed above, the one that I found myself reflecting on the most was the very last one — treating people as if they were invisible. It’s human nature to want to feel like you matter, like people see you and hear you and understand where you’re coming from. This particular certifiable A-hole strategy completely strips that away for people, in a very nonchalant way.

As I read through this list and considered how I interact with my colleagues, clients, and candidates on a daily basis, I realized that there may be times where I don’t do an effective job of making sure people know I am listening to what they’re telling me or acknowledging their opinions/feedback. Does this put me in the category of a certifiable A-hole? I sure hope not! 

Reading this was a great reminder of how important it is to acknowledge the people you have interactions with during the work day. I’m not referring to calling people up, sending emails, or stopping them in the hallway to announce that you appreciate what they do for you. Not that this would be a bad idea, but that’s not the point I’m trying to get across here! What I’m referring to is making a conscious effort to let the people you interact with know that their opinions matter, that you recognize the contributions they made, that you’ve learned something as a result of an interaction you’ve had with them — make sure they know that you are listening and aware of their perspective. 

Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg.  Stay tuned for more of my reflections on “The No Asshole Rule.”  In my next blog spot, we’ll examine how certifiable A-holes negatively impact the workplace, not only from a morale standpoint, but from a financial perspective.

About the Author, Stephanie Miller, Senior Account Manager

Stephanie Miller, Aureus Group Account Manager

Stephanie Miller has worked for Aureus Group for five years.  As a senior account manager within the Finance and Accounting division, Stephanie partners with organizations throughout the state of Iowa and provides staffing solutions within the accounting, finance, and human resources departments. With a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from Nebraska Wesleyan University, Stephanie is currently pursuing a master’s degree in negotiation and dispute resolution at Creighton University and is a certified professional consultant.

Stephanie reports that two of the most rewarding aspects of her job is seeing how pleased the client is when she’s successful in identifying a professional who meets the level of experience/skills the company desires for a particular position and also helping a candidate make a successful career change. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her husband, Chad, and their two dogs, Benny and Olive. She also loves to travel, check out new restaurants, watch movies, run, attend sporting events and theatrical performances, and volunteer through the United Way a few times per month.