Discovering Leadership

Is Narcissim a Strength or Weakness in Leadership?

Since we started with the Myers Briggs personality profiles, I thought it might be worth a quick look at whom they would classify with a narcissistic profile… and as it turns out, I got a little bitch-slapped in the process with my MBTI ENTJ being the perfect fit. To be precise, according to Myers Briggs

“Each type’s dark side is occasionally manifested in personality disorders. Personality disorders, of which there are ten main types, consist of a series of symptoms which make it difficult to get along smoothly with others and adapt to society. Behaviors of those with such disorders are frequently irritating to people around them. When you learn about the 16 MBTI types it should make sense that some types are more prone to certain personality disorders than other types…..

Narcissistic personality disorder is a condition in which one believes that they are superior to everyone else. They fantasize and exaggerate their abilities and self-worth (N), expect constant praise from others (E), and are insensitive to others’ emotions (T). In reality, you’ll probably find that the most arrogant people out there are ENTxs. ENTJ, ENTP”

So I should almost be compelled to lead a charge here for it being a strength, less it undo my future potential in leadership. But having read Maccoby’s Narcissitic Leaders and the distinction he attempts to make between productive and unproductive narcissism, I feel that the follies of the ‘gargantuan’ ego does endanger their future or the companies future should they prefer to insulate themselves with ‘yes-men’ and viciously strive for that pursuit of victory. On the flip side, in the other reading by Schumepter who warns of the ‘faceless boss’ causing a dip in intellectual vitality, there is much merit to the unwavering vision of the charismatic leader. However, I’m reminded of higher spectrum of risk that comes with as he almost assumes that level of invulnerability.

While I continue to reference fictional characters in popular culture, sci-fi fans, can almost see this through the differing styles of leadership of the brash charging “Captain Kirk” and calm and collected”Jean-Luc Picard” of Star Trek that demonstrates the charge necessary during parallel political climates of when the series was written - pre-Cold war vs post-Cold war showing a shift to a higher level of diplomacy and collective leadership.

It does seem that every generation does have its embodiment of the the ‘traffic stopping’ individual. With Facebook’s recent IPO, it’s hard to ignore Mark Zuckerberg transforming our social networking environment and feeding societies growing narcissistic obsession - as one paper describes it “Facebook’s study finds link to socially aggressive narcissism”

I can’t help recall a scene from the Social Network, in which Zuckerberg so flippantly dismissed others with this statement,

“You have part of my attention. You have the minimum amount. The rest of my attention is back at the offices of facebook, where my colleagues and I are doing things that no one in this room, including and especially your clients, are intellectually or creatively capable of doing. Did I adequately answer your condescending question?”.

How’s that for certainty?According “What CEOs like about Zuckerberg”, the right moves his made, are what Maccoby listed in ‘Avoiding the Traps’ - 1. Finding a trusted sidekick 2. Indoctrinate the organization … so perhaps 2/3 isn’t bad at all.

Freakonomics