How to survive your terrible coworkers, according to a Stanford professor

Bob Sutton

Be careful about going to war with the jerks in your office, said Stanford University professor Robert Sutton (pictured).

You've got to learn how to deal with workplace jerks if you're going to advance professionally - and preserve your sanity.

Robert Sutton, professor of management at Stanford University and author of "The No Asshole Rule," spoke to a number of individuals who have coped with less than ideal coworkers for his upcoming book "The Asshole Survival Guide." His sources included people who have worked with back-stabbers, incompetent and abusive bosses, and even one man who dealt with a noisy coworker who, according to a decibel meter, was as loud as cutting metal.

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His sources included people who have worked with back-stabbers, incompetent and abusive bosses, and even one man who dealt with a noisy coworker who, according to a decibel meter, was as loud as cutting metal.

He said that, in many cases, it's best to either avoid working with jerks in the first place or quit and move on. But that evasive maneuvering isn't always warranted - or possible for everyone.

But that evasive maneuvering isn't always warranted - or possible for everyone.

With that in mind, Sutton broke down seven strategies for surviving the worst people in your office: