Leader Narcissism: Bright and Dark Sides

Many world leaders and CEOs have been ascribed with narcissistic characteristics. Examples range from business leaders like Steve Jobs and Larry Ellison to former presidents like Donald Trump and prime ministers like Silvio Berlusconi. These leaders all seem to be characterized by a grandiose sense of self-importance and a belief that they deserve special privileges. It raises questions like: Do narcissists rise to the top? And if so, are they effective leaders? Is narcissism perhaps more tolerated for male leaders? What about its impact on workplace fairness and ethics? How to deal with a narcissistic boss? In this talk I will present past and ongoing research conducted to address these and related questions. Our research suggest that an understanding of narcissism –bright and dark sides- and its effect on leadership is crucial for organizational wellbeing and success.

Annebel de Hoogh is associate professor Leadership & Management at the University of Amsterdam Business school.

Personal page: www.uva.nl/en/profile/a.h.b.dehoogh