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When Smart People Make Bad Employees
theodp writes "Writing for Forbes, CS-grad-turned-big-time-VC Ben Horowitz gives three examples of how the smartest people in a company can also be the worst employees: 1. The Heretic, who convincingly builds a case that the company is hopeless and run by a bunch of morons; 2. The Flake, who is brilliant but totally unreliable; 3. The Jerk, who is so belligerent in his communication style that people just stop talking when he is in the room. So, can an employee who fits one of these poisonous descriptions, but nonetheless can make a massive positive contribution to a company, ever be tolerated? Quoting John Madden's take on Terrell Owens, Horowitz gives a cautious yes: 'If you hold the bus for everyone on the team, then you'll be so late that you'll miss the game, so you can't do that. The bus must leave on time. However, sometimes you'll have a player that's so good that you hold the bus for him, but only him.' Ever work with a person who's so good that he/she gets his/her own set of rules? Ever been that person yourself?"
Gregory House. Need anyone say more?
That's because I'm surrounded by Morons who don't even know the capital of Elbonia!
"I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
I have always been the most important person on any team, but no one seems to notice...
Ray Seyfarth, ray.seyfarth@gmail.com, http://rayseyfarth.blogspot.com
So I am guessing that didn't include time at Oracle?
"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K
do NOT link to that site ever again!
I lost 2 hours... I think. Is it still Wednesday?
Of what month, sir??
Your first clue is that you refer to them as "users" :)
Yeah, instead of "lusers" or "id10t errors".
"I don't care about the Constitution!" --Bill O'Reilly, November 17, 2009
The trick is to read everything remotely interesting the first time you visit. It takes a day or 2, but after that you can resist clicking in the future.