Many think that qualities like confidence, dominance, authority, and self-esteem make narcissists good leaders. But, according to a study, "opposite seems to be true."
The study found that the narcissists' preoccupation with their own brilliance inhibits a crucial element of successful group decision-making and performance: the free and creative exchange of information and ideas.
The study recruited 150 participants and divided them into groups of three. One person was randomly assigned to be the group's leader; all were told they could contribute advice, but that the leader was responsible for making the decision.
As expected, the group members rated the most narcissistic leaders as most effective. But they were wrong. In fact, the groups led by the greatest egotists chose the worse candidate for the job.
"The narcissistic leaders had a very negative effect on their performance. They inhibited the communication because of self-centeredness and authoritarianism," said Barbora Nevicka, a PhD candidate in organizational psychology, describing a new study she undertook with University of Amsterdam colleagues Femke Ten Velden, Annebel De Hoogh, and Annelies Van Vianen.
Narcissism can sometimes be useful in a leader, said Nevicka. In a crisis, for instance, people feel that a strong, dominant person will take control and do the right thing, "and that may reduce uncertainty and diminish stress."
The findings will be published in an upcoming issue of Psychological Science .
-TOI
Narcissists rise to the top because people mistake their confidence and authority for leadership qualities
They may be charming, confident and climb the job ladder with ease, but when they reach the top, narcissists are actually not very good at their roles.
Such people are often too self-obsessed to do their jobs properly, according to a study.
Those who love themselves and have vast self-confidence often impress others with their self-belief, dominance and authority, leading them to climb the career ladder effortlessly.
However, scientists have discovered that while narcissists are convincing leaders, they are so consumed by their own brilliance that it actually cripples their creativity and often causes them to make bad decisions.
They like to squirrel away information from their colleagues and are too focused on themselves to allow others to shine in the workplace, researchers said.
It also prevents proper interaction with colleagues who often vastly overestimate the ability of their overconfident bosses.
Scientists at the University of Amsterdam proved their theory by conducting an experiment involving 150 people, split into groups of three.
One of the three was randomly assigned as group leader as part of a task intended to choose a job candidate.
Information about the candidate was handed out, some to a single member, some to the entire group.
The group was told that all three members could contribute advice, but that their leader was ultimately responsible for any decisions.
The study was designed to see how narcissistic leaders could hold back information about candidates, a tactic that could result in a less skilled person given the job, thereby damaging the company.
Questionnaires given to 'employees' and 'leaders' revealed that employees hailed narcissistic leaders as the most effective.
But they were wrong.
Leaders with the largest egos had the most negative effect on their group's overall performance.
They were too self-centred and authoritarian to communicate properly or listen to their colleagues.
Study author Barbora Nevicka, of at the University of Amsterdam, said: 'As expected, the group members rated the most narcissistic leaders as most effective.
'In fact, the groups led by the greatest egotists chose the worse candidate for the job. The narcissistic leaders had a very negative effect on their performance.
'They inhibited the communication because of self-centeredness and authoritarianism.'
She added: 'Narcissism can sometimes be useful in a leader.
'In a crisis, for instance, people feel that a strong, dominant person will take control and do the right thing,and that may reduce uncertainty and diminish stress.
'However, in the everyday life of an organization, communication, sharing of information, perspectives, and knowledge is essential to making good decisions.
'In brainstorming groups, project teams, government committees, each person brings something new. That's the benefit of teams. That's what creates a good outcome.
'Good leaders facilitate communication by asking questions and summarizing the conversation-something narcissists are too self-involved to do.'
Discussing how narcissists can flourish in politics and even lead governments, Ms Nevicka added: 'Narcissists are very convincing.
'They do tend to be picked as leaders. There's the danger - that people can be so wrong based on how others project themselves.
'You have to ask: "Are the competencies they project valid, or are they merely in the eyes of the beholder?"
The results are published in the journal Psychological Science.
-Dailymail
The study found that the narcissists' preoccupation with their own brilliance inhibits a crucial element of successful group decision-making and performance: the free and creative exchange of information and ideas.
The study recruited 150 participants and divided them into groups of three. One person was randomly assigned to be the group's leader; all were told they could contribute advice, but that the leader was responsible for making the decision.
As expected, the group members rated the most narcissistic leaders as most effective. But they were wrong. In fact, the groups led by the greatest egotists chose the worse candidate for the job.
"The narcissistic leaders had a very negative effect on their performance. They inhibited the communication because of self-centeredness and authoritarianism," said Barbora Nevicka, a PhD candidate in organizational psychology, describing a new study she undertook with University of Amsterdam colleagues Femke Ten Velden, Annebel De Hoogh, and Annelies Van Vianen.
Narcissism can sometimes be useful in a leader, said Nevicka. In a crisis, for instance, people feel that a strong, dominant person will take control and do the right thing, "and that may reduce uncertainty and diminish stress."
The findings will be published in an upcoming issue of Psychological Science .
-TOI
Narcissists rise to the top because people mistake their confidence and authority for leadership qualities
They may be charming, confident and climb the job ladder with ease, but when they reach the top, narcissists are actually not very good at their roles.
Such people are often too self-obsessed to do their jobs properly, according to a study.
Those who love themselves and have vast self-confidence often impress others with their self-belief, dominance and authority, leading them to climb the career ladder effortlessly.
However, scientists have discovered that while narcissists are convincing leaders, they are so consumed by their own brilliance that it actually cripples their creativity and often causes them to make bad decisions.
They like to squirrel away information from their colleagues and are too focused on themselves to allow others to shine in the workplace, researchers said.
It also prevents proper interaction with colleagues who often vastly overestimate the ability of their overconfident bosses.
Scientists at the University of Amsterdam proved their theory by conducting an experiment involving 150 people, split into groups of three.
One of the three was randomly assigned as group leader as part of a task intended to choose a job candidate.
Information about the candidate was handed out, some to a single member, some to the entire group.
The group was told that all three members could contribute advice, but that their leader was ultimately responsible for any decisions.
The study was designed to see how narcissistic leaders could hold back information about candidates, a tactic that could result in a less skilled person given the job, thereby damaging the company.
Questionnaires given to 'employees' and 'leaders' revealed that employees hailed narcissistic leaders as the most effective.
But they were wrong.
Leaders with the largest egos had the most negative effect on their group's overall performance.
They were too self-centred and authoritarian to communicate properly or listen to their colleagues.
Study author Barbora Nevicka, of at the University of Amsterdam, said: 'As expected, the group members rated the most narcissistic leaders as most effective.
'In fact, the groups led by the greatest egotists chose the worse candidate for the job. The narcissistic leaders had a very negative effect on their performance.
'They inhibited the communication because of self-centeredness and authoritarianism.'
She added: 'Narcissism can sometimes be useful in a leader.
'In a crisis, for instance, people feel that a strong, dominant person will take control and do the right thing,and that may reduce uncertainty and diminish stress.
'However, in the everyday life of an organization, communication, sharing of information, perspectives, and knowledge is essential to making good decisions.
'In brainstorming groups, project teams, government committees, each person brings something new. That's the benefit of teams. That's what creates a good outcome.
'Good leaders facilitate communication by asking questions and summarizing the conversation-something narcissists are too self-involved to do.'
Discussing how narcissists can flourish in politics and even lead governments, Ms Nevicka added: 'Narcissists are very convincing.
'They do tend to be picked as leaders. There's the danger - that people can be so wrong based on how others project themselves.
'You have to ask: "Are the competencies they project valid, or are they merely in the eyes of the beholder?"
The results are published in the journal Psychological Science.
-Dailymail
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