Toxic workers drag us down, so why do we promote them?

SAY you’re looking for a new deputy, and you know a guy named John.

John has a great track record for delivering projects ahead of schedule, within budgets, and to a high standard. He says intelligent things in boardrooms, which are completely aligned with your vision.

Sure, his colleagues say he has a ‘certain reputation’. For some reason, they say this in hushed tones, with the frantic eyes and studiously blank features of victims in a hostage situation. But they don’t elaborate, and you never probe. You can’t make omelettes without cracking a few eggs, right?