Narcissistic leaders often attain greatness.
They can see what the future holds; they aren’t analyzers or number crunchers who try to understand or explain it. They are focused on creating it.
Another compelling quality is their gift for attracting followers. Narcissistic leaders intuitively know how to inspire through their words, speeches and language.
But as narcissists become increasingly self-assured, they act more spontaneously. They feel free of constraints, and ideas flow. They believe they’re invincible, which further inspires followers’ enthusiasm and feeds into feelings of grandiosity.
The adoration narcissists crave can have a corrosive effect. As their personalities expand, they tune out cautionary words and advice. Past successes create an exaggerated self-confidence. If anyone disagrees with them, they feel justified in ignoring them, creating further isolation. The result is flagrant risk-taking that can lead to catastrophe.
Narcissists selectively listen to the information they seek. They don’t learn easily from others, as they’re overly sensitive to feedback. They are vigilant for signs of disagreement, which are interpreted as betrayal.
They don’t like to teach others, but prefer to indoctrinate or preach. They dominate meetings. The result for the organization is greater internal competitiveness.
Narcissistic leaders are uncomfortable with their emotions and keep others at arm’s length. They have walls of defense and generally want to avoid knowing what others think of them.
One serious consequence is failure to listen when they feel threatened or attacked. And while they crave empathy from others, narcissistic leaders are not known for returning the favor.
But narcissists possess a kind of street-smart emotional intelligence. They are acutely aware of whether people are with them wholeheartedly. They know who they can use and can be brutally exploitative.