I have to decide if I partner with someone who has a clear sociopath profile. He will be damn efficient at sales, but it is virtually impossible to do collaborative work with him. He will be always measuring his power and negotiating for advantage. It's emotionally tiring to deal with him already. He will spend all his metal energy making sure things are done the way he wants them. Will behave like a CEO, even when his role is not CEO. Will orchestrate power coups any chance he has.

The more general question is: should sociopaths be tolerated on an early stage startup? Given the requirements of startup life, my guess is that sociopaths abound. I lean against this partnership. But I may be rejecting a very effective partner, provided he plays fair with the rest of the team (which is not clear!).

The only relationship that I imagine could work is one similar to that of Malcom [3] and Jayne [4] in Firefly.

What do you think?

[1] http://www.ribbonfarm.com/2009/10/07/the-gervais-principle-or-the-office-according-to-the-office/ [2] http://www.ribbonfarm.com/2009/11/21/morality-compassion-and-the-sociopath/ [3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Firefly_characters#Malcolm_Reynolds [4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Firefly_characters#Jayne_Cobb