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What happens when you hire a brilliant jerk?

The brilliant jerk is of many types. Sometimes it is someone who is insanely brilliant. Sometimes, it is someone who is very good at relationship building. Sometimes it is someone who just delivers. 

But the effect the brilliant jerk has is always the same. 

They seem to leave a trail of destruction - sometimes attrition, discontent many a time.

They seem to always be insecure about "something". If could be a customer, an important project or their own skill or their prized relationship. 

The area that they own gets significantly good results (often way ahead of the pack) that the leader is forced to accommodate all their shenanigans. (This is not entirely true, the leader makes a choice to accommodate.)

Word spreads very quickly about the "bad" culture in the team.

People do not want to work with this brilliant jerk. 

Certain decisions are taken which end up being regretted. 

Everyone has to watch their back. 

But what intrigues me, how much companies, teams and seasoned leaders put up with brilliant jerks. 



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