Discover our other sites:

You might be looking for...

THIS CONTENT IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY Oslo Metropolitan University - read more

Narcissistic leaders: Not always a bad thing?

Is it possible to make positive use of narcissism in the workplace? Researchers have examined this in a new study.

Narcissism is a personality trait characterised by grandiosity, a need for admiration and a lack of empathy.

(Photo: Shutterstock / NTB)

Sonja Balci kommunikasjonsrådgiver

Presented by: Oslo Metropolitan University

Published 11 May 2025 - 00:01

Narcissists are drawn to leadership roles because it gives them opportunities to gain power, recognition, and control.

They view leadership as a platform to express themselves and achieve status.

The hallmarks of a narcissistic person are manipulation and exploitation of others. It is all about them, and they often consider themselves better than everyone else.

“These leaders also have a tendency to overestimate their own abilities and often take risks based on this belief,” explains Professor Robert Buch at OsloMet.

He is behind a new study on how narcissistic leaders affect employees and organisations.

The study was conducted together with Geir Thompson at NLA University College, Keith Campbell at the University of Georgia in the USA, and Lars Glasø at BI Norwegian Business School.

What is narcissism?

Narcissism is a personality trait characterised by grandiosity, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy.

The two main forms of narcissism:

Grandiose narcissism: Characterised by self-confidence, charisma, and an inflated self-image. Often associated with leadership.
Vulnerable narcissism: Characterised by uncertainty, sensitivity to criticism, and a hidden need for affirmation.

Features of narcissistic leaders:

Overestimate their own abilities.
Inspire through charisma and self-confidence.
May exhibit destructive behaviours, such as misuse of power and manipulation.

Positive potential: They can be visionary and motivating if they develop political skills.

Disadvantages: They often lack self-awareness and empathy, which can harm the work environment.

Creating a toxic work culture

Narcissistic leaders can create a toxic work culture characterised by uncertainty.

They often prioritise their own gains ahead of the needs of the organisation. They may also make decisions that harm the organisation over time.

This can lead to conflicts, a poor working environment, and short-sighted decisions.

“They often struggle to understand or care about the feelings and opinions of others, which can make them difficult to work for,” says Robert Buch.

Portrett forsker — Professor Robert Buch at OsloMet is behind the study, in collaboration with researchers from BI Norwegian Business School, NLA University College, and the University of Georgia.

He and his research colleagues examined whether it is possible to positively utilise narcissism in the workplace and whether it can have any real benefits.

The study included 238 managers and 1,531 employees from various Norwegian organisations.

The research shows that the answer may be yes – under certain conditions.

May inspire others

The professor explains that it's about channelling the person’s energy in a constructive manner.

Narcissism can have positive aspects if combined with political skills and social intelligence. This could involve understanding how people think and how relationships work, both formally and informally.

“A narcissistic leader with excellent self-insight can also use their drive to motivate employees. You need to understand what motivates others and how you can get others to work together towards a shared goal,” he says.

One solution is leadership training

Buch says it can be challenging to get narcissistic leaders to see the value of developing political skills, but it is not impossible. They rarely admit to any shortcomings.

One strategy may be to use their desire for success as a motivating factor.

For example, it is possible to offer leadership training that shows how social understanding and strategic skills can strengthen their own position and performance.

Tailoring leadership training to meet the needs of narcissistic leaders is a solution.

“When they see that increased self-insight and better understanding of the needs of others will strengthen their own position, they become more receptive to change,” he explains.

Led to less destructive behaviour

Studies have shown that continuous feedback from employees and colleagues can help narcissistic leaders adjust their behaviour and build trust.

“Nevertheless, change doesn't happen overnight. It requires structural support over time, preferably from HR or an external coach, to ensure lasting developments,” says Buch.

Social intelligence is an important aspect of political skills and ingenuity, but it also involves strategic thinking and network-building.

“In our study, these characteristics of leaders contributed to increased job satisfaction and improved performance among employees,” he says.

The researchers also found that there was less destructive behaviour, such as misuse of power and harassment, in the workplace.

About the study

The researchers used questionnaires as part of the research method. Each questionnaire contained different scales to measure narcissism, among other things.

Here are 6 of the 18 statements from the abridged version of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI), which is commonly used in research, based on adaptations from Raskin and Terry (1988).

Participants rate how much they agree with each statement using a scale from 1 (completely disagree) to 7 (completely agree).