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Are You a Jerk?
Robert Sutton, a professor of management science and engineering at Stanford University, has written a book about how people can improve or at least survive a workplace where some people leave a lot to be desired.
The title might be offensive to some, so we'll modify it slightly, to The No 'Jerk' Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn't.
Sutton says there are 12 common actions that 'jerks' use.
Test yourself to see how frequently, if ever, these actions apply to your dealings with others at work.
Scoring
Give yourself one point for "never"
Two points for "once a year"
Three points for "once a month"
Four points for "once a week"
Five points for "daily"
Here goes:
- How often do you dish out personal insults?
- How often do you invade the personal territory of others?
- How often do you initiate uninvited physical contact with co-workers?
- How often do you use verbal and non-verbal threats and intimidation?
- How often do you make sarcastic jokes or teasing remarks?
- How often do you send out highly critical, demeaning or angry emails?
- How often do you intentionally demean people's status in front of others?
- How often are you the instigator of public shaming or "status degradation" rituals?
- How often do you interrupt people in a rude manner?
- How often do you make two-faced attacks?
- How often do you give co-workers dirty looks?
- How often do you ignore others as if they are invisible?
Interpreting the Scores
13 points and under: You are not quite a 'jerk.' You understand proper workplace etiquette, but if you scored any points, you aren't perfect.
14 to 25 points: You are a borderline 'jerk' who is one mean move away from being put over the edge. Your co-workers are developing hateful feelings toward you. You can still redeem yourself.
26 to 45 points: You are a 'jerk.' Your negative demeanor is affecting everyone around you.
More than 46 points: You are an extreme 'jerk.' You won't get anywhere if you continue to act the way you do. You should leave before your enemies resort to drastic measures.
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