Weirdos in the Workplace

September 15, 2004
Consultant Putzier begins his foray into the work world of high performers with "There is always a talent shortage." His point? That corporations today must accept the so-called weirdos for their contributions, after distinguishing whether they're truly adding value or simply are annoying and irritating. The tools he uses to measure his contention include behavioral and organizational change maps and step-by-step Venn diagrams with a path led by answers to specific questions. Before explaining the techniques, though, he spends good space describing and analyzing 32 different kinds of weirdos, from Circadian Charlie to System Tester Sam. He also delves into the emotional and mental composition of high performers, from their need for workplace flexibility and new technology to their responses to out-of-the-ordinary incentives and to risk and bureaucracy. The bottom line is his fervent belief that, without a good understanding and toleration of the weirdos (aka Albert Einstein, among others), this planet will be a much less productive and innovative place in which to work and live.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)