A Harvard Business School professor has outlined three signs that your boss might be a narcissist. Amy Edmondson, a professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School in conversation with CNBC Make It, pointed out that the traits which help narcissistic individuals attain managerial positions are the same ones that also make them ineffectual leaders.
“The essence of being a narcissist is that you’re about yourself, you’re for yourself, and you’re less others-oriented. People who are in a position with a desire to lead others, need to be others-oriented. That starts with self-awareness,” Edmondson told the news outlet.
The professor further outlined the key signs to help people identify a narcissistic boss. According to Edmondson, one major indicator is that a narcissistic boss tends to claim all the credit for successful outcomes and avoids taking responsibility for failures.
“Narcissistic bosses are likely to take credit for things that go well and to dodge blame for things that don’t or, more specifically, overtly blame others or external circumstances for things that don’t go well,” she said.
Edmondson further noted that these bosses might mask their inability to acknowledge their team’s contributions with vague or generic praise. “You notice they might be thanking the team but not in a specific way and it doesn’t take long to realise that they are all about themselves,” she added.
Another sign of a narcissistic boss, according to Edmondson, is their lack of listening skills. She explained that the manager’s role comes with a “lot of explaining and teaching and clarifying goals,” but it becomes a sign of narcissism if they do all the talking “at the expense of listening.”
“They do not appear to be listening and learning. Their thinking isn’t visibly being altered by what others are saying,” she added.
For her final tip, Edmondson pointed out that narcissistic bosses view praise from others as a threat. They often get envious of their colleagues’ recognition or successes.
She noted that ideally praising a team member, who is doing great work, should reflect positively on the boss and enhance their reputation. “If someone on your team is doing great work, it seems natural to me to be appreciative,” she said.
However, narcissistic leaders don’t see it that way. Instead, they view it as a “lost opportunity” and feel uncomfortable with the admiration for others, even if that person could potentially make them look like a better manager.
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