Long live the asshole?
For some time now, one can feel an increasing curiosity for the phenomenon of the office-asshole. Is this because they represent a growing proportion of our colleagues? Although it has been showed that assholes tend to reproduce themselves (that is, they recruit people in their own ranks), it remains rather tricky to say that they have exponentially grown in number.
We simply are much more aware of their existence, and sensitive to the warning signs.
But still, it remains unclear and difficult to recognize them.
Of course, the asshole has many noticeable characteristics. Robert Sutton, in his book The No Asshole Rule (who met with a worldwide success, and a particularly strong one in France, humhum…), defines him by two major traits: the asshole aggresses, humiliates, talks down to and constantly brings down his interlocutor; who, in more cases than not, is hierarchically inferior to him.
“The asshole paradox”
But the phenomenon of the asshole is a highly complex one. Aaron James, in his recent study Assholes: A Theory takes up the issue with philosophy, and without diplomacy. In short, the asshole is the one who thinks all the basic common rules which enable us to live and work together don’t apply to him; and who believes he is perfectly in his own right thinking like this.
The so-called paradox resides in the incredible bad influence he can have on our temper, our mood and on the general work-environment with small a priori unimportant remarks. Saying that “well, he’s nothing more than an asshole” would actually be like abdicating. Although the fault he causes is rather slim, the consequences can prove disastrous.
Simply put, his very own presence spoils the office atmosphere. Consider what it could do in an open-space…
“Quand on est con, est-on con?”
For it is not as clear and simple as famous French singer Brassens sings it. The saying means that we are potentially all little assholes.
New definition, new difficulty: in many cases, the asshole suffers simultaneously from bipolar disorder and Alzheimer. One minute he will humiliate and make fun of you in front of everyone during an important meeting; and he will be all the more polite and agreeable around the coffee machine the next. For the asshole often ignores he is one, and is the first to point out asshole-material behaviour in others. Think twice next time before saying your colleague is one…
Entering the grey zones of stupidity
But the complexity of the issue should not make us despair. Especially when we know, thanks to Robert Sutton, that the TCA (total cost of assholes) can climb as high as 130 000 euros per year per person! Therefore, the fact that he’s particularly productive should not be an excuse to look the other way.
Being aware of all the complexities and subtleties of the problem is a first step. For assholes, just as the “non-assholes” tend to see the issue in black and white. But what we should truly focus on are the grey zones of asshole-ness.
Ignoring them, would make some space so they can evolve and reproduce in complete freedom and impunity.