I was reading a piece in the WSJ about the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.  In case you’ve never been invited to the WEF, Davos is an alpine resort equidistant between Zurich and Innsbruck Austria.  Be sure to bring your skis and a fat wallet if you plan to attend next year.

What prompted this rant was the description of the atmosphere at the WEF.  In short, it was, “hang the bankers” and this in the midst their own elite.  According to Donald Moore, chairman of Morgan Stanley in Europe, bankers are about as popular as terrorists.  We all know why:  They took our bailout money and then paid themselves absurd bonuses.  In my mind and that of many, this qualifies them as A—holes.

What are the characteristics of a—hole?  How about self-centered, greedy, arrogant, in short, sociopaths?  Seems this would be an apt definition for the Davos bankers who clearly don’t give a damn about the millions of people they injured.  Why am I writing about his to a predominantly human resources readership?  It is because you have to deal with smaller versions of a—holes in your organization.  The question is, how do you handle them so they don’t hurt your good people?  Take a leaf from SuccessFactors’ book.

SuccessFactors has a cultural commandment that addresses this.  It is simply the circle with a slash with No Assholes in the middle.  Started by founder Lars Dalgaard, a self-proclaimed former asshole, this is now the cornerstone of the company.  They’ve softened the label so as not to offend your sensitivities, to wit:

“No jerks! Our organization will consist only of people that absolutely love what we do, with a white hot passion. We will have utmost respect for the individual in a collaborative, egalitarian, and meritocratic environment - no blind copying, no politics, no parochialism, no silos, no games, no cynicism, no arrogance - just being good!”

I think the bankers could stand to adopt this.  Then, maybe we wouldn’t put them in the same bag as terrorists.  You think “terrorists” is too strong, which has caused more harm around the world in the last two years?

Now, how are you going to deal with the a—holes in your organization who stifle creativity, inhibit productivity and drive good people out?

Jac