Narcissism is often a hazard for chief executives, who are said to be three times as likely as the general population to score highly for the trait in personality tests.
Academics have found that narcissistic leaders often take big risks, demand loyalty, and have flimsy ethics. They regularly invite protracted lawsuits. And, like the now-infamous crying CEO who took to social media to share how laying off employees affected him, self-absorbed leaders often need to be reminded to consider the experiences of others. “Sometimes they can give off an air of superiority and can also be very entitled,” says Lorenz Graf-Vlachy, a professor of strategy and leadership at Technische Universität Dortmund in Germany.
