Robert I. Sutton

"Every organization is plagued by destructive friction-the forces that make it harder, more complicated, or downright impossible to get anything done. Yet some forms of friction are incredibly useful, and leaders who attempt to improve workplace efficiency often make things even worse. Drawing from seven years of hands-on research, The Friction Project by bestselling authors Robert I. Sutton and Huggy Rao teaches readers how to become "friction fixers,"...

Sutton starts with diagnosis: what kind of asshole problem, exactly, are you dealing with? From there, he provides field-tested, evidence-based, and sometimes surprising strategies for dealing with assholes-- avoiding them, outwitting them, disarming them, sending them packing, and developing protective psychological armor. By helping you develop an outlook and personal plan that will help you preserve the sanity in your work life, Sutton also help...