Our Origin Story
People often ask Dr. Courtney, “who was ‘the jerk’ who inspired The Jerk Researcher®?” They’re usually surprised by her answer. The jerk she wanted to study most was… herself.
Dr. Courtney’s perfectionistic tendencies helped her get into and then succeed in veterinary school, but in the real world, perfectionism made her a stressed out, micromanaging co-worker.
She realized her behavior was hurting those around her, especially when one day her actions sent a veterinary technician running out the door crying. That wasn’t the person she wanted to be.
She genuinely valued and cared about her teammates, but it felt like if she tried to channel her nicer, more charming friends, she somehow became more hurtful. It was a dark time. She found herself wondering, “Am I just a fundamentally bad person?”
Dr. Courtney grew up hearing ideas like:
- People can’t change
- You can’t teach people skills
- Fire toxic team members as soon as possible
It truly reached the breaking point when her teammates and practice manager brought up their concerns with her behavior. Fortunately, they were willing to work with her to create and implement an improvement plan. Like any desperate scientist, Dr. Courtney turned the peer reviewed literature for help.
It worked! Not only did Dr. Courtney start to improve, but it helped the team as a whole find systemic sources of stress, improve communication, and discuss their strengths and weaknesses.
As Dr. Courtney started talking about her journey with others, she realized she hadn’t been alone after all. Many colleagues were secretly experiencing similar challenges, worrying they were terrible people, and didn’t have a safe space to discuss them. Dr. Courtney realized she could create that space and The Jerk Researcher® was born.
What started as a dark time of self doubt, ultimately turned into an opportunity to help and teach others.
Dr. Courtney offers a unique perspective on working with difficult co-workers because she has been that difficult coworker.
Learn more about Dr. Courtney’s other qualifications or how a veterinarian’s skills apply to conflict research.
Our Origin Story
People often ask Dr. Courtney, “who was ‘the jerk’ who inspired The Jerk Researcher®?” They’re usually surprised by her answer. The jerk she wanted to study most was… herself.
Dr. Courtney’s perfectionistic tendencies helped her get into and then succeed in veterinary school, but in the real world, perfectionism made her a stressed out, micromanaging co-worker.
She realized her behavior was hurting those around her, especially when one day her actions sent a veterinary technician running out the door crying. That wasn’t the person she wanted to be.
She genuinely valued and cared about her teammates, but it felt like if she tried to channel her nicer, more charming friends, she somehow became more hurtful. It was a dark time. She found herself wondering, “Am I just a fundamentally bad person?”
Dr. Courtney grew up hearing ideas like:
- People can’t change
- You can’t teach people skills
- Fire toxic team members as soon as possible
It truly reached the breaking point when her teammates and practice manager brought up their concerns with her behavior. Fortunately, they were willing to work with her to create and implement an improvement plan. Like any desperate scientist, Dr. Courtney turned the peer reviewed literature for help.
It worked! Not only did Dr. Courtney start to improve, but it helped the team as a whole find systemic sources of stress, improve communication, and discuss their strengths and weaknesses.
As Dr. Courtney started talking about her journey with others, she realized she hadn’t been alone after all. Many colleagues were secretly experiencing similar challenges, worrying they were terrible people, and didn’t have a safe space to discuss them. Dr. Courtney realized she could create that space and The Jerk Researcher® was born.
What started as a dark time of self doubt, ultimately turned into an opportunity to help and teach others.
Dr. Courtney offers a unique perspective on working with difficult co-workers because she has been that difficult coworker.
Learn more about Dr. Courtney’s other qualifications or how a veterinarian’s skills apply to conflict research.