Here’s a nice piece from the folks at Q Ideas on narcissism (originally published at The High Calling). The author tracks the problem of narcissism through parenting styles and human development, but he also has some interesting things to say about narcissism in the workplace, particularly for people in leadership roles.
Of course there’s a paradox to making self-observations about your own narcissistic tendencies (since, by definition, narcissists are full of their own self-importance), but the author has a helpful list of questions to inquire whether you’re suffering under narcissism’s lure:
- Are you threatened by the achievements of others – those who report to you and those “above” you in the organizational hierarchy? Do they seem to get credit you believe is your due? What happens to you emotionally when others get compliments?
- Do you ever wonder why people don’t seem to like you?
- Is your anger easily triggered by negative comments about your performance? Is it easy for you to look for “kernels of truth” in the comments?
- Have you been able to sustain long term relationships/friendships, or do people seem to come and go in your life?
- How competitive are you? What happens to you emotionally when someone else seems to “win” at your expense?
- To whom are you closest in an emotional sense? Personally and professionally? Could you articulate what is most important to them in their life?
- Do people ever comment on your leadership: “He/she doesn’t listen! He/she doesn’t hear me.”
- Have you ever been accused of bending, or breaking, “the rules”?
Benjamin McNutt is the editor of Call & Response. You can follow him on Twitter at @benjaminmcnutt.
