Working with Monsters – How to identify and protect yourself from the workplace psychopath.

John Clarke, Random House, 2005

Working with Monsters had particular relevance for me, having worked closely with the ultimate workplace psychopath in years gone past and seeing how destructive and exasperating his behaviour could be for all concerned.  I no longer have to deal with this person, but if you or your HR department are having problems with your own workplace psychopath, this is the book to get you out of the mess.

Working with Monsters is no lightweight guide akin to the “dealing with difficult people’ courses and books however.  The author is a forensic psychologist who has also worked as a criminal profiler for law enforcement agencies as well as a consultant helping corporations deal with specific employees.  Having a forensic psychologist write an enjoyable, almost ghoulishly fun book on HR issues may seem odd, but it has to be realised that most psychopaths live and work in the community every day – raising the  question – what about their poor co-workers?

Clarke takes us on an enjoyable trip starting with psychopaths throughout history, concluding with his early realization that famously violent psychopaths such as Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer actually have much in common with those who express their psychopathy psychologically, not physically. Your difficult colleaugue may not be trying to eat you, but s/he me still want to dominate at any cost.

Clarke proceeds to cover off the various forms of workplace psychopath, with fascinating anecdotes and examples covering off what he terms organizational, corporate criminal, violent criminal and occupational psychopaths.  As to how best to manage these people, he clearly and succinctly provides guidance on how to minimize their impact, and better yet, how to reduce the likelihood of recruiting them in the first place.

This is the book you’d never want to require – but should you do so, it’s well worth the read.

Jonathan Dodd