I guess my half a dozen readers would agree with me, in every organization there will always be one or two, sometimes more, super-talented and super-capable employees who are really outstanding performers and do the job like no other else can.

The downside, however, is most of the time, these geniuses or whizzes turn out to be the equivalent of wrecking balls as far as interpersonal relationships are concerned. They cannot or do not get along well with other people.

These people, by their ability to get things done, to come up with ideas that can lead to new products and services, help companies gain market share, even create new markets, are definitely some of the most sought after assets in any industry or market.

We read about these people in our history books. They were the ones who gave humanity some of the most important inventions and discoveries. These people have come up with paradigm-shifting ideas, developed new technologies, products, and services that sometimes could be ahead of their time. In short, these are the people that help push the world forward.

For every technology, product, or service they come up with, however, these people also by their very nature pose a multitude of risks of destroying themselves, the companies they work for, and everybody and everything else within a 50-mile radius. Not surprisingly, they have been called rabble-rousers, firebrands, eccentrics, neurotics, witches, gremlins, and bloodsucking SOBs.

Most of the time, these people deserve being called as such. Just as frequently, these people are indispensable.

Sinofsky, Forstall

Apple and Microsoft, the tech market’s bitterest of rivals, were recently united by a similar experience — letting go of a long-time, trailblazing executive. A few weeks ago, Apple saw the departure of software guru Scott Forstall. Last week, Microsoft parted ways with Windows chief Steven Sinofsky.

While both executives were reported as undeniably capable and knowledgeable about their respective business units, technologies, and markets, they also seemed wanting when it comes to dealing with their peers and subordinates harmoniously.

Post-departure reports claimed these guys were “abrasive” and “intolerant” of anybody they did not agree with or threatened their respective fiefdoms.

Surface Lawsuit

A California lawyer has filed a lawsuit against Microsoft, alleging the software vendor and aspiring hardware maker is guilty of misleading advertising by claiming its Surface tablet comes with 32GB of storage capacity.

After discovering that the OS and preloaded apps gobbled up about half of the Microsoft tablet’s 32 gigabytes of space, Andrew Sokolowski filed his lawsuit at the Los Angeles Superior Court.

The lawyer claims he is not after Microsoft’s money. He, however, says Microsoft should return the company’s Surface profits to consumers who had bought the tablet.

This corner has a note to this lawyer: It might take a little while before Microsoft realizes some profit from its Surface venture.

That’s all for the meantime, folks. Join me again next time as we keep on watching IT.