When I recently noted how some bankers might be self-deceptive narcissists, I didn’t mention any of the potential positives that narcissists can bring to the workplace as leaders. This recent article on Slate about narcissism and narcissistic personality disorder mentions some positives (and negatives) that Michael Maccoby recognized in his book The Productive Narcissist: The Promise and Peril of Visionary Leadership :
[Maccoby] makes a distinction between leaders with narcissistic traits and those who have full-blown NPD. He says narcissists can be charismatic forces for change—because of their drive, vision, risk-taking, and even ruthlessness, many corporations turn to narcissists for salvation. But such people can become dangerous because their success fuels their already ample grandiosity and feeds the sense they got there by disdaining the normal rules.
I agree that drive, vision, risk-taking and ruthlessness can be beneficial traits in a leader. [...]
Posts Tagged ‘Essence of Leadership’
On Narcissism
British Bank CEOs: Self-deceptive Narcissists?
I recently came across this article from Gill Corkindale about how British bank CEOs are failing to take responsibility for the failure of their banks and their banks’ role in bringing on the global financial crisis. When the British CEOs answered the questions of the parliamentary select committee last week, their lack of self-awareness was astounding. Says Corkindale: [...]
Avoiding Continual Tensions
Earlier this month I came across this survey suggesting that nearly half of all workers think their bosses are incompetent. This can make for a difficult working environment.
In my book Essence of Leadership , I identified 5 reasons for continual tensions in organizations:
Differences between subordinates and bosses (the boss is accountable for a subordinate’s behaviour and contribution).
Differences between the operating businesses and the group centre (i.e. the centre is focused on a broad range of interests while business units are more concerned with the timely and efficient delivery of services or products).
Differences between internally and externally-focused people (people with different stakeholders and protocols may not always see eye-to-eye).
Differences between people who are more sales-oriented as opposed to service-oriented (the tension between getting the sale and provide good service).
Differences [...]
