Is my boss a narcissist?
The following signs will tell you - work psychologist sees only one way out
Created: 03/23/2022, 08:51
By: Juliane Gutmann
If you have to work with an extremely narcissistic boss, you often reach your limits.
© Imago
An occupational psychologist sees only two ways to work with a narcissistic boss.
Does your boss fall into this category?
Narcissistic bosses usually overestimate themselves, are hardly interested in others and act inconsiderately and coldly: Not good conditions for a nice cooperation.
But how do you know that your boss is a narcissist?
Many people have slight narcissistic traits, but there are also pathological narcissists with whom living and working together can be extremely difficult.
The following traits indicate that your boss is a narcissist:
Your boss is not open to criticism
: If you cannot criticize your manager constructively, that is the first indication of a narcissistic personality, work psychologist Markus Dobler is quoted as saying by Business Insider.
Narcissists would shoot up if they were criticized.
Her boss does not admit when he or she has made a mistake:
Admitting a mistake would severely affect a narcissist's fragile self-esteem, says Dobler: "That's why it can't be that I, as a narcissist, make a mistake.
It's always the others.
In psychology this is called 'externalization'.”
Your boss is a self-promoter
: According to Dobler, so many people with narcissistic personality disorder get into managerial positions because they can be very charismatic.
"If I manage to artificially boost my own self-esteem, then I'm usually able to sell myself well," Dobler is quoted as saying by Business Insider.
Narcissists may appear extraordinarily charming, friendly, and outgoing, but appearances can be deceiving.
Basically, there is calculation behind such behavior for narcissists.
Needs of others are ignored by narcissistic bosses:
narcissists find it difficult to empathize with others.
This can also have fatal consequences in the business world.
According to Dobler, narcissistic bosses usually do not “lead”, but “manage”: “They shift resources, like chess pieces.
And that's where pawn sacrifices come in," says Dobler.
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Dealing with Narcissistic Bosses: "They sneak around, or they keep their distance and leave the company"
Anyone who recognizes their boss in the above behavior and personality traits could be dealing with an extreme narcissist.
In such a case, Markus Dobler, who wrote the book Dealing with Incompetent and Difficult Bosses, sees only two options.
Either you constantly flatter your boss and thus make the cooperation bearable.
Or you leave the company
.
“You slouch around, or you keep your distance and leave the company.
Or you oppose and show the manager what a whistle they are.
Then it usually doesn't take long before you leave anyway.
But not voluntarily,” says Dobler: “The best advice I can give: Get away as soon as possible!”
(jg)
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