In Greek mythology, Narcissus was a young man of incomparable beauty who fell in love with his reflection in the waters of a spring. So entranced was he by his own appearance that he refused to move, gazing at the surface of the water until he wasted away.
Although his story ended tragically, the spirit of Narcissus still lives among us. Instead of fabled hunters languishing lakeside, notable narcissists these days are more likely to be realtors-turned-presidents or tech billionaires clamouring for cage fights. But Silicon Valley isn’t the only place this contentious personality trait can be found. You might not even have to look further than your own office.
Dr Alex Wang, a management expert from the ANU College of Business and Economics says narcissism is very common among bosses.
Wang and his peers recently evaluated executive staff at a public hospital in Southern China, finding narcissist managers can have a direct negative effect on the behaviour of their employees.
So, how can you tell if your manager has this trait?
If your supervisor is prone to setting difficult performance targets for your team or overinvesting in certain projects, these could be signs of narcissism. And while they might not be in love with their own reflection like their mythological forefather, their high level of self-regard may be obvious.
“Narcissistic managers believe they are more intelligent, creative and attractive than they actually are and have a strong desire for constant recognition, affirmation and praise,” Wang says.
But just because you suspect your boss has these traits doesn’t necessarily mean they will be aware of this. Nor are they likely to respond well to feedback.
“It is very difficult for narcissistic managers to realise their own behaviours,” Wang says.
“They rarely self-reflect, listen to others’ advice, or accept negative information about themselves or their decisions.”
Studies show narcissistic bosses can bring benefits to workplaces such as higher productivity and creativity. American anthropologist Michael Maccoby coined the term “productive narcissist” to describe charismatic leaders including Bill Gates and Winston Churchill.
But working for a narcissistic boss that has impossibly high expectations can elevate stress levels and have a detrimental effect on staff well-being.
“When employees fail to achieve performance targets, lose the motivation to try or even are unwilling to come to work, companies should be worried about their mental health,” Wang says.
He recommends job rotations, periodic audits and anonymous complaint mailboxes as strategies that can balance out a narcissistic manager’s tendency to push their team too hard.
In hiring and promoting people into leadership roles, Wang says it’s important to consider a candidate’s personality and how their behaviour may affect others.
If you are struggling with your supervisor’s management style to the point where it is affecting your mental health, it’s important to seek support.
“It is a good practice for employees to speak out about work-related concerns to their family members, friends or professional psychologists as soon as the issues arise.” Wang says.
This story was originally published on the ANU Reporter site. You can view it here.
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