Divas

ℹ️(2025-12-03T22:19.365Z)
Perplexity Query
(2025-12-03T22:19
.365Z)
Question:
What did Eric Schmidt mean when Google decided to "Support the Divas, fire the Knaves?"
Model: sonar-pro

Support your Divas

Eric Schmidt and Jonathan Rosenberg, Google's former executives, developed a strategic hiring philosophy that contrasted two types of difficult employees: divas and knaves. [lh35vv] [sti22t] This "support the divas, fire the knaves" principle reflected their approach to building a culture of excellence at Google.

Understanding the Philosophy

Divas are exceptionally talented individuals who are difficult to manage but drive remarkable results. [lh35vv] [sti22t] Schmidt described them as people who "believe" passionately in the company's mission and team, expecting high standards from themselves and others. [lh35vv] Their combative and demanding nature stems from genuine commitment to excellence, not self-interest. Steve Jobs exemplified this archetype—brilliant, opinionated, argumentative, and sometimes bullying, yet undeniably vital to Apple's success. [sti22t]
In contrast, knaves are employees who are equally difficult but fundamentally self-serving. [lh35vv] [sti22t] Knaves prioritize personal gain over team success, lack integrity, and are described as "sloppy, selfish," and deceptive. [zu5m6v] While both divas and knaves can be annoying workplace presences, the critical distinction is that divas channel their egotism toward collective achievement, whereas knaves exploit the organization purely for personal benefit. [lh35vv]

The Strategic Rationale

Schmidt emphasized that companies desperately need divas to innovate and advance. [sti22t] "If you don't have such a person, your company's not going to go anywhere," he explained, because without these exceptional individuals pushing boundaries, organizations simply repeat what they've always done. [sti22t] Divas are the people who "drive the culture of excellence" and compel teams toward breakthrough achievements. [lh35vv]
Knaves, conversely, offer nothing of organizational value and must be removed swiftly. [lh35vv] [zu5m6v] While a diva's eccentricities should be tolerated and even protected because their contributions justify their outlandish egos, knaves provide no offsetting brilliance to warrant their presence. [zu5m6v] This principle allowed Google to maintain high performance standards while filtering out toxic actors who contributed nothing but dysfunction.

Citations

[lh35vv] 2025, Oct 26. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt Says Divas Are The Best People .... Published: 2024-10-18 | Updated: 2025-10-26

[zu5m6v] 2025, Oct 17. Notes on “How Google Works” by Eric Schmidt and Alan .... Published: 2014-12-17 | Updated: 2025-10-17

[4]: 2025, Sep 19.
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt: Hire the divas
. Published: 2024-01-20 | Updated: 2025-09-19
[5]:
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt on why you should hire the divas: “Steve Jobs was a diva”
.