Do you ever find yourself wondering, “How on earth can I collaborate with this individual?” Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Encountering narcissists at work is more common than you think. These individuals are experts in making their presence known — telegraphing their behavior in some obvious and not-so-obvious ways. While dealing with such individuals can be challenging, it’s important for companies to reconsider their performance policies and prioritize the recognition of collaborative teams who bring the best results.
Understanding the workplace narcissist
Narcissists at work exhibit a variety of traits that can significantly impact workplace dynamics. Their behavior is rooted in an excessive sense of their own importance and a constant need for admiration, leaving others feeling frustrated and drained. These individuals tend to dominate conversations, lack empathy for others, and relentlessly pursue personal success and recognition at the expense of team morale and the achievement of business goals.
The impact of narcissists on team performance
Research conducted by the University at Buffalo School of Management highlights the detrimental effects of narcissistic individuals on team performance, both in sports and in the workplace. The study analyzed NBA teams and discovered a correlation between higher levels of narcissism within a team and poorer levels of team coordination, leading to lower overall performance. The findings suggest that narcissistic individuals prevent positive outcomes from occurring and hinder the team’s ability to fully capitalize on the benefits of collaboration.
Placing highly narcissistic individuals in critical team positions can pose risks to your company. While narcissists may be drawn to prestigious and powerful roles and may even become leaders, there are long-term costs associated with submitting to ALL their demands. Here are a few.
- Disrupted collaboration and cooperation: Narcissistic leaders often prioritize their own agendas and personal interests over the collective goals of the team. This self-centered approach hampers collaboration and cooperation among team members. When individuals feel undervalued or exploited, they are less likely to work together effectively, resulting in reduced team performance.
- Decreased trust and engagement: Narcissists at work tend to exhibit manipulative and exploitative behaviors, which erode trust within the team. When team members perceive their leader as insincere or solely focused on personal gain, it becomes challenging to build trust and maintain high levels of engagement. Without trust, team members may withhold important information, limit their efforts, or become disengaged, ultimately impacting performance and outcomes.
- Lack of empowerment and development: Narcissistic leaders often seek to maintain power and control, limiting the empowerment and development of their team members. They may be reluctant to delegate tasks or provide opportunities for growth, fearing that others may outshine them. This lack of empowerment stifles individual potential and prevents the team from taking advantage of diverse skills and talents, resulting in underutilized resources and low morale.
- Absence of constructive feedback and learning: Narcissists in leadership roles are more likely to provide feedback in a negative and critical manner rather than offering constructive guidance. This feedback style undermines learning and development within the team. Without supportive and constructive feedback, team members may struggle to improve their skills, address weaknesses, and grow professionally.
- Inhibited innovation and risk-taking: Narcissists often have a strong aversion to criticism or challenge to their ideas, restricting innovation within the team. Team members may become hesitant to propose new ideas or question the status quo, fearing negative consequences or rejection. This risk-averse environment limits creativity and innovation, preventing the team from exploring new approaches and potentially hindering team performance.
Strengthening teams for lasting organizational success
To effectively address workplace narcissism and its impact on team dynamics, organizations can employ various coping mechanisms and strategies.
Strengthen hiring and selection processes: Implement comprehensive screening measures during the hiring process to identify narcissistic tendencies in candidates. Conduct thorough reference checks and consider talking to previous employers to gather additional insights beyond the provided references.
Utilize 360-degree evaluations: Incorporate 360-degree evaluations where feedback is collected from a wide range of employees, enabling a more comprehensive assessment of an individual’s behaviors and tendencies. This can help identify narcissists and provide valuable insights for addressing their overall impact.
Compensate team success: Tie a significant portion of the compensation and performance evaluation to the development and success of their team. Reward collaboration with peers and ensure that leaders cannot circumvent sharing credit and working collaboratively with others.
Document and address behavioral issues: Consistently document narcissistic behavior and hold narcissistic employees accountable for their performance and conduct. Focus on addressing specific instances of negative behavior and its impact on team dynamics and overall performance.
Establish clear expectations: Set clear expectations for performance and behavior, leaving no room for narcissistic employees to manipulate or push boundaries. Document these expectations and communicate them to all stakeholders to gain support when enforcing boundaries.
Establish firm boundaries: Define and maintain firm boundaries within the workplace, ensuring that narcissistic behavior such as angry outbursts, manipulation, and dominating conversations are not tolerated. Stand firm in enforcing these boundaries and take appropriate action when necessary.
Consider role realignment: If possible, move narcissistic employees into roles that are less dependent on team dynamics, reducing their negative impact on collaboration and cooperation. And consider taking away supervisory responsibilities from narcissistic individuals.
Fostering a culture of objective evaluation and idea – meritocracy is crucial for improving business outcomes and creating a fair and inclusive workplace. By assessing ideas based on their merits rather than being swayed by the personality or charisma of individuals, you can ensure that valuable contributions are recognized, regardless of who proposes them. This approach prevents narcissistic individuals from dominating discussions and allows the best ideas to prevail, benefiting the company as a whole.
Embracing objectivity in evaluating ideas cultivates an environment where introverted individuals with exceptional insights can also thrive, and all team members are valued for their contributions, promoting innovation, collaboration, and overall team performance.
