Amy Edmondson, a Leadership and Management professor at Harvard Business School, shared the three signs that your boss could be a narcissist. She explained that the traits that help narcissists get into management positions are the same ones that make them poor leaders.
Edmondson explained that a narcissist focuses mainly on themselves and isn’t concerned about others. Effective leaders need to be focused on others, and it all begins with self-awareness.
The professor also listed key signs to spot a narcissistic boss. Edmondson noted that a big sign is when the boss takes all the credit for successes but avoids responsibility for failures.
Edmondson said that narcissistic bosses often take credit for successes but shift blame onto others or outside factors when things go wrong.
Edmondson also pointed out that these bosses might hide their failure to recognize their team’s efforts with vague praise. She said, “They might thank the team in a general way, but it quickly becomes clear that they are mostly focused on themselves.”
Edmondson also noted that narcissistic bosses often lack listening skills. She explained that while managers need to explain, teach, and clarify goals, it’s a sign of narcissism if they do all the talking and don’t listen.
Edmondson added that narcissistic bosses don’t seem to listen or learn from others and their views don’t change based on what others say. She also mentioned that they see praise from others as a threat and often feel jealous of their colleagues’ achievements.
She pointed out that praising a team member who is doing well should actually boost the boss’s reputation. “If someone on your team is doing great work, it makes sense to show appreciation,” she said.
But narcissistic leaders think differently. They see it as a “lost opportunity” and feel uneasy about others getting admiration, even if it could reflect well on them as a manager.
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