The "no asshole" rule

I recently read a profile in Sports Business Journal on Sean McManus, head of CBS Sports, and loved a point he made when talking about the CBS Sports culture.

"At CBS Sports, we have what we call a 'no asshole' rule," McManus said. "You can't be an asshole and work at CBS Sports."

How refreshing, given what in my observation is a time when more businesses are openly encouraging contentious behavior between team members under the guise of open and honest dialogue. An unfortunate byproduct of that behavior is the decay in trust that occurs among business colleagues.

Who hasn't heard phrases such as "I'm not trying to be a (insert your favorite descriptor here), but..." When translated, that really means "I AM trying to be a (insert your favorite descriptor here)." Another personal favorite is the "I don't want to tell you what to do, but..." And, of course, you know they ARE going to tell you what they think you should do.

The beauty of McManus' statement, and approach, is that it fosters trust between CBS Sports colleagues. That trust becomes evident to the external world as well.

McManus emphasized that he's worked hard to develop a culture of respect and collegiality at CBS Sports. Here's hoping that other business leaders see value, and results, in developing that same "no asshole" approach within their own companies and work groups.