Comments on: I agree not to be an a-hole

By: Pan

Pan — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 13:15:04 +0000

The cost of ass-holes is growing tremendously. This is a huge problem especially in the big companies. AHs are getting ignored by the size of the company. A good example will the management of the technocrats by a non-tech AHs and the tremendous amount of time they spend on non-sense meetings and conversation about the allocation of technocrat resources to the technical project. And the out product of all of these non-sense is called outsourcing.

By: Sherell Baker

Sherell Baker — Wed, 02 May 2007 17:56:13 +0000

To answer KB’s question, yes adults really need to be constantly treated like children who need to play nice. It’s sad, but true. I applaud SuccessFactors for their rule and wish more companies would give more than lip service to this issue. The standard is obviously pervasive throughout the company and doesn’t begin and end in a new hire orientation meeting or a sermon on the mount type speech from the CEO.

By: KB

KB — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 16:20:02 +0000

Interesting analogy which goes to reinforce my thinking that
the workplace is just another extension of an elementary school playground. Just endlessly silly in my opinion. Do adults really need to
be constantly treated like children who need to play nice?

By: Gail Staub

Gail Staub — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 18:04:40 +0000

It’s interesting how people get hung up on words instead of understanding the purpose. As Bob Sutton said when he spoke to our team in January, there are those of us who are temporary ass-holes, and that?s ok as long as you catch yourself and learn from it. Putting the ass-hole rule down on paper makes those of us who have these temporary ass-hole moments (and those of us who may be real ass-holes outside of work of which I personally don?t think there are many at SF) “catch” ourselves and be more aware of what we say and how we say it. It creates an environment that allows more freedom to communicate honestly.

Plus when someone is being an ass-hole… I can always say… “you’re being an ass-hole…” and it really means something at SuccessFactors!

By: Frank

Frank — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 17:05:25 +0000

As a former employee of SuccessFactors, I have to say that I felt a personal connection with the CEO when he told me about the no a-hole rule. I felt that it couldn’t have been more plain or more real. As it turned out, it was.

And having people actually sign in agreement gives it legitimacy-it’s not delivered as part of a boring seminar which can easily be scoffed off.

I’ve worked for Fortune 500 companies that have seminars and sessions on “Respect in the Workplace” or policies where “the door is always open.” But then, once onboard you learn the unwritten rules – so-and-so can get away with being a jerk cause he’s buddies with a VP; or the highest-producing salespeople get an “out” on treating people well – because hey, they’re brining loads of money in to the company. Bad behavior gets explained away by the perpatrator’s host of apologists; and only when something big or dramatic happens (like threat of a lawsuit), will the company consider taking action.

The “no a-holes” rule, should be the rule at every workplace.

By: Bob Sutton

Bob Sutton — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 06:13:47 +0000

Max,

This is the most inspired and compelling I’ve ever read on what it takes to enforce the no assholes rule. Your last paragraph is a gem.