We once went through 3 managers in a year. They didn't just get re-assigned, they were driven out screaming for mercy. (Anyone of the gang reading this will remember the parting words of Number 1: "I'm more a systems manager than a people manager") I'm proud to say my "difficult" group was a key factor. The upper PHBs put one of us in charge of our group (made us a separate section). 10 years later we were still going strong when I retired. A small victory perhaps, but you have to take what you can grab.