The No Asshole Rule

The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn't

By Robert I. Sutton, Ph.D.

About the Author

Robert I. Sutton, Ph.D., is a prominent professor of management science and engineering at Stanford University. He is celebrated for his insightful contributions to organizational behavior, leadership, and change management. Sutton has authored several influential books, including Hard Facts, Dangerous Half-Truths & Total Nonsense and Weird Ideas That Work. His work often challenges conventional wisdom and offers innovative solutions to common workplace issues. The No Asshole Rule garnered widespread acclaim, winning the Quill Award for Best Business Book of the Year in 2007. Sutton resides in Menlo Park, California, where he continues to inspire and educate through his research and writing.

Main Idea

The No Asshole Rule explores the pervasive problem of toxic behavior in the workplace and provides practical strategies for addressing and mitigating its impact. Sutton's central thesis is that individuals who engage in rude, selfish, and destructive behavior—termed "assholes"—significantly harm organizational culture, morale, and productivity. The book offers a framework for identifying such behavior, understanding its consequences, and implementing policies to create a more respectful and productive work environment.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Defining the Asshole
3. Why Workplace Assholes Are So Common
4. The Damage Done by Assholes
5. Implementing the No Asshole Rule
6. Strategies for Surviving Nasty People and Workplaces
7. Conclusion

Defining the Asshole

In The No Asshole Rule, Sutton meticulously defines what constitutes an "asshole" in the workplace. He adopts the definition from researchers like Bennett Tepper, describing it as "the sustained display of hostile verbal and nonverbal behavior, excluding physical contact." This definition is crucial as it helps differentiate between occasional bad behavior and a persistent pattern of demeaning actions.

Assholes can manifest their toxicity in various ways. Some are overtly aggressive, openly belittling and insulting their colleagues. These individuals are easier to identify and discipline due to their visible outbursts. However, more insidious are the two-faced backstabbers who hide their malice behind a veneer of civility, striking only when they believe they won’t get caught. This covert aggression can be just as damaging, if not more so, as it erodes trust and creates a culture of fear and suspicion.