Robert I. Sutton Books

Drawing on case studies that range from Silicon Valley enterprises to non- profit organisations, this book provides crucial insights into corporate cultures, both good and bad, and offer a road map for establishing and stimulating excellence.

The first full account of the crucial work done at Fort Hunt, Virginia during World War II, where the highest-level German prisoners were interrogated, and captured documents analyzed.

No-one is against creativity. Everyone agrees that creativity is a very good thing in people and in companies. The creative industries are where the action is, so creativity must be a good thing. However, it's not altogether clear what creativity is, and it certainly isn't easy to work out how to encourage it, to manage it, and above all how to profit from it.

The definitive guide to working with -- and surviving -- bullies, creeps, jerks, tyrants, tormentors, despots, backstabbers, egomaniacs, and all the other assholes who do their best to destroy you at work. What an asshole! How many times have you said that about someone at work? You're not alone! In this groundbreaking book, Stanford University professor Robert I. Sutton builds on his acclaimed Harvard Business Review article to show you the best ways to deal with assholes...and why they can be so destructive to your company. Practical, compassionate, and in places downright funny, this guide offers: Strategies on how to pinpoint and eliminate negative influences for goodIlluminating case histories from major organizationsA self-diagnostic test and a program to identify and keep your own inner jerk from coming out The No Asshole Rule is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today and Business Week bestseller.

Draws on real-life case studies and psychological research to explain what differentiates a good boss from a bad boss and explains what the best bosses do correctly.

Now featuring a new chapter on what great bosses truly do, Dr. Sutton shares insights gained since his previous work. He discusses legendary figures like Ed Catmull and Steve Jobs, offering techniques for aspiring bosses. This book addresses the question: what can you do to excel as a boss? Dr. Sutton, a Stanford Professor, combines psychological and management research with engaging stories to illustrate the behaviors of both effective and ineffective bosses. The inspiration for this book came from the numerous emails and conversations he had after his bestseller, The No Asshole Rule, which revealed a common focus: the boss. Many stories highlighted a desire for more than just a pleasant workplace; they reflected a yearning for great leadership that fosters commitment and dignity. As Dr. Sutton explores the actions of the best and worst bosses, a central theme emerges: great bosses strive to understand how their words and actions affect their teams, peers, and customers. They recognize that their success hinges on self-awareness, the ability to manage their emotions, and the skill to adapt in ways that inspire effort and pride among their employees.

Sutton is a sought-after consultant, speaker and Stanford professor. This book brings together 11 of his proven, counter intuitive ideas that work, from hiring people that make employers squirm to encouraging projects likely to fail.

From the international bestselling expert on dealing with difficult individuals, this indispensable resource combines cutting-edge research with real-life examples, making it both thought-provoking and often hilarious. It provides clear steps for rejecting, deflecting, and deflating the jerks that can blight our lives. Being around such individuals can severely damage performance and wellbeing; studies show that even one difficult person in a team can reduce performance by 30 to 40%. The rise of social media has exacerbated incivility, with 40% of people reporting online harassment. The author, a Stanford professor, offers practical advice on identifying and addressing various types of difficult individuals, drawing from research and insights gained from 8,000 emails on the subject. With expertise and humor, he presents a methodical game plan that includes an "asshole audit" to determine the type of difficult person you’re dealing with, along with detection strategies. He shares field-tested techniques, from avoidance strategies to mind tricks and the art of love bombing. Finally, he warns of the dangers of "asshole blindness," where one might inadvertently contribute to the problem. Readers will learn effective ways to handle difficult individuals in both professional and personal settings.

When the Harvard Business Review asked Robert Sutton for suggestions for its annual list of Breakthrough Ideas, he told them that the best business practice he knew of was 'the no asshole rule'. Sutton's piece became one of the most popular articles ever to appear in the HBR. Spurred on by the fear and despair that people expressed, the tricks they used to survive with dignity in asshole-infested places, the revenge stories that made him laugh out loud and the other small wins that they celebrated against mean-spirited people, Sutton was persuaded to write THE NO ASSHOLE RULE. He believes passionately that civilised workplaces are not a naive dream, that they do exist, do bolster performance and that widespread contempt can be erased and replaced with mutual respect when a team or organisation is managed right. There is a huge temptation by executives and those in positions of authority to overlook this trait especially when exhibited by so-called producers, but Sutton shows how overall productivity suffers when the workplace is subjected to this kind of stress.