What is *Jerks at Work* by Tessa West about?

*Jerks at Work* exposes seven toxic workplace archetypes – including Gaslighters, Credit-Stealers, and Bulldozers – and provides science-backed strategies to neutralize their impact. Using decades of research, NYU psychologist Tessa West explains how to protect your career from manipulative coworkers while avoiding becoming a jerk yourself. Key tactics include limiting a Bulldozer’s influence in meetings and mirroring a Gaslighter’s tactics defensively.

Who should read *Jerks at Work*?

This book is essential for professionals facing toxic colleagues, HR teams managing interpersonal conflicts, and managers seeking to foster healthier teams. It’s particularly valuable for high achievers targeted by Credit-Stealers and employees coping with neglectful bosses or micromanagers. West’s actionable frameworks also benefit those transitioning to leadership roles.

Is *Jerks at Work* worth reading?

Yes – it’s a pragmatic guide for navigating common but underaddressed workplace conflicts. While not focused on systemic fixes, its archetype-based approach (like handling Kiss Up/Kick Downers) offers immediate tactical relief. The book’s strength lies in translating academic research into real-world scripts, though readers seeking organizational-level solutions may need supplemental resources.

How does *Jerks at Work* suggest dealing with a Gaslighter?

West advises using a Gaslighter’s own tactics against them: document conversations, restate their contradictions publicly (“So to confirm, you’re saying X now vs. Y yesterday?”), and enlist allies to verify realities. This approach disrupts their manipulation without escalating conflict, as Gaslighters rely on isolation and ambiguity.

What’s the best way to handle a Credit-Stealer at work?

Preempt theft by announcing contributions early (“I’ll present the analytics I developed”) and cc stakeholders on progress emails. West emphasizes “credit anchoring” – linking your work to measurable outcomes in group settings. For chronic offenders, strategically praise their “collaboration skills” to managers while highlighting your specific inputs.

Can *Jerks at Work* help with a micromanaging boss?

Yes. The book recommends “controlled autonomy” – providing ultra-specific progress updates preemptively (“I’ll send the draft by 3 PM Thursday”) to satisfy their need for control while carving out decision-making space. Gradually negotiating check-in frequency reductions using data (“Our last 3 projects met deadlines with weekly updates”) can reset expectations.

What are the 7 workplace jerk archetypes identified?

1. **Kiss Up/Kick Downers** (charms superiors, abuses subordinates) 2. **Credit-Stealers** (claims others’ work) 3. **Bulldozers** (dominates conversations/decisions) 4. **Free Riders** (shirks team responsibilities) 5. **Micromanagers** (excessive control) 6. **Neglectful Bosses** (avoids guidance) 7. **Gaslighters** (distorts reality)

How does Tessa West advise confronting a Bulldozer?

Silence their dominance by ensuring they speak last in meetings. Pre-meeting ally-building (“Let’s rotate speaking order”) and structured agendas prevent Bulldozers from hijacking discussions. West also suggests reframing their interruptions as enthusiasm (“Alex is passionate, but let’s hear Sarah’s full idea”).

Jerks at Work Summary, PDF, EPUB, Audio

Jerks at Work

Tessa West

3.57 (564 Reviews)

Business Psychology Relationship Self-growth

Panoramica

Punti Chiave

Autore

Domande Frequenti

Tired of toxic colleagues? NYU psychologist Tessa West's "Jerks at Work" delivers science-backed strategies for handling seven workplace saboteurs. Endorsed by influential thinkers like Scott Galloway, it's the career insurance Annie Duke calls "breezy" yet transformative for navigating office politics.

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Cattura le idee chiave in un lampo per un apprendimento veloce

Divertente22min

Goditi il libro in modo divertente e coinvolgente

Migliore citazione da Jerks at Work

The key insight emerging from West's research: the most effective antidote to workplace jerks isn't isolation or avoidance but developing a robust network of workplace relationships.

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Jerks at Work non è solo un libro — è una masterclass in Business. Per aiutarti ad assorbire le sue lezioni nel modo che funziona meglio per te, offriamo cinque modalità di apprendimento uniche. Che tu sia un pensatore profondo, un apprendista veloce o un amante delle storie, c'è una modalità progettata per il tuo stile.

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"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

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Creato da alumni della Columbia University a San Francisco

BeFreed Riunisce Una Community Globale Di 1,000,000 Menti Curiose

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"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

1.5K Ratings4.7

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Jerks at Work

Tessa West

3.57 (564 Reviews)

Business Psychology Relationship Self-growth

Panoramica

Punti Chiave

Autore

Domande Frequenti

Esplora il Tuo Modo di Imparare

Riassunto Rapido9min

Senti il libro attraverso la voce dell'autore

Approfondimento42min

Trasforma la conoscenza in spunti coinvolgenti e ricchi di esempi

Flashcard9 spunti

Cattura le idee chiave in un lampo per un apprendimento veloce

Divertente22min

Goditi il libro in modo divertente e coinvolgente

Migliore citazione da Jerks at Work

The key insight emerging from West's research: the most effective antidote to workplace jerks isn't isolation or avoidance but developing a robust network of workplace relationships.

Altri come questo

Job Therapy

Tessa West

Asshole Survival Guide

Robert I. Sutton

Just Work

Kim Scott

28 sources

Workplace Heartbreak: Reclaiming Your Power After Betrayal

Joy at Work

Marie Kondo & Scott Sonenshein

23 sources

Workplace Defense: Beyond Toxic Resilience Culture

Workstyle

Lizzie Penny and Alex Hirst

Tipping Sacred Cows

Jake Breeden

Punti chiave

When Office Nightmares Come to Life

00:00

Ever had that sinking feeling when you realize your dream job has become a nightmare because of one person? You're not alone. In today's workplace, jerks aren't just annoying - they're systematic predators who undermine your well-being, productivity, and career prospects. The typical responses we resort to - venting to colleagues, emotionally checking out, gossiping, direct confrontation, or running to management - often make things worse. Even well-meaning supervisors frequently freeze when faced with these situations, either because they depend on the problematic employee's skills, feel unprepared to handle interpersonal conflicts, or instinctively avoid confrontation. Workplace relationship problems don't stay neatly contained within office walls. They follow you home, affecting your mental health, family relationships, and quality of life. The truth is, even seasoned professionals with impressive credentials struggle with difficult colleagues. Career experience doesn't automatically translate to conflict management skills. More surprisingly, workplace jerks aren't simply bitter or incompetent employees - many are highly skilled social strategists who deliberately weaponize their interpersonal talents for personal gain. The most effective protection isn't isolation but developing a robust network of workplace relationships across departments and hierarchical levels.

Power Players: Kiss Up/Kick Downers and Idea Vampires

Conversation Dominators and Team Disruptors

Management Extremes: Micromanagers and Absentee Leaders

Psychological Manipulators: Dealing with Gaslighters

Creating a Jerk-Free Workplace Culture

Prevention Strategies and Long-Term Solutions

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Riassunto Rapido

Riassunto di Jerks at Work in 9 Minuti

Scomponi le idee chiave di Jerks at Work in punti facili da capire per comprendere come i team innovativi creano, collaborano e crescono.

00:00

Flashcard

Top 9 Spunti da Jerks at Work in Sintesi

Distilla Jerks at Work in rapidi promemoria che evidenziano i principi chiave di franchezza, lavoro di squadra e resilienza creativa.

Divertente

Lezioni da Jerks at Work Raccontate in Storie di 22 Min

Vivi Jerks at Work attraverso narrazioni vivide che trasformano le lezioni di innovazione in momenti che ricorderai e applicherai.

00:00

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Vivi Jerks at Work a modo tuo.

Chiedi qualsiasi cosa, scegli la voce e co-crea spunti che risuonino davvero con te.

Creato da alumni della Columbia University a San Francisco

BeFreed Riunisce Una Community Globale Di 1,000,000 Menti Curiose

Scopri di piu su come si parla di BeFreed nel web

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

Creato da alumni della Columbia University a San Francisco

BeFreed Riunisce Una Community Globale Di 1,000,000 Menti Curiose

Scopri di piu su come si parla di BeFreed nel web

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

1.5K Ratings4.7

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Jerks at Work by Tessa West Summary

Overview of Jerks at Work

Similar books to Jerks at Work

Migliore citazione da Jerks at Work

Altri come questo

Punti chiave

When Office Nightmares Come to Life

Power Players: Kiss Up/Kick Downers and Idea Vampires

Conversation Dominators and Team Disruptors

Management Extremes: Micromanagers and Absentee Leaders

Psychological Manipulators: Dealing with Gaslighters

Creating a Jerk-Free Workplace Culture

Prevention Strategies and Long-Term Solutions

Modalità Riassunto Rapido - Leggi o ascolta il riassunto di Jerks at Work in 9 minuti

Modalità Flashcard - Top 9 Spunti da Jerks at Work in Sintesi

Modalità Divertente - Lezioni da Jerks at Work Raccontate in Storie di 22 Min

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Altri come questo

Punti chiave

When Office Nightmares Come to Life

Power Players: Kiss Up/Kick Downers and Idea Vampires

Conversation Dominators and Team Disruptors

Management Extremes: Micromanagers and Absentee Leaders

Psychological Manipulators: Dealing with Gaslighters

Creating a Jerk-Free Workplace Culture

Prevention Strategies and Long-Term Solutions