Revealing the Dark Triad: Its relationship with high-level managers
Have you ever met that friend who, no matter what, always manages to convince you that he or she is right? Or maybe you've worked under a boss whose ability to manipulate and control those around him is both impressive and disturbing. Picture this: your boyfriend, always steering conversations in his favour, dismissing opposing viewpoints with an air of superiority. And your boss, effortlessly pulling the strings behind the scenes, making you question your own judgement and leaving you feeling like a mere pawn in their game. These people possess a unique set of personality traits that allow them to navigate social dynamics with seemingly supernatural finesse. They have personality traits that belong to an area of psychology known as the Dark Triad, a fascinating dimension that encompasses narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism. In this article, we dive into the depths of this dark trio, exploring its complex relationship with high-level managers.
Narcissism or When self-love becomes harmful
Narcissism, characterised by an excessive sense of self-importance and a desire for admiration, has been found to manifest itself more frequently as individuals move up the career ladder. This is partly due to reduced feedback from employees. Narcissistic managers tend to exhibit traits such as selfishness, a desire for authority and influence, and a tendency to react aggressively to criticism. Surprisingly, some narcissistic people possess high levels of innovation and organisational skills. This could be attributed to their charisma, self-confidence and structured planning driven by an exaggerated perfectionism.
Psychopathy or the mask of cunning
Psychopathy is characterised by traits such as impulsivity, insensitivity and poor social behaviour. Surprisingly, studies suggest that psychopathic traits can be found in a variety of settings, including senior leadership positions. Although psychopathic tendencies are associated with harmful behaviours, they also offer certain advantages in life. Individuals with psychopathic traits often possess scrupulousness, charm, focus, mental toughness, fearlessness, alertness and a penchant for action. These traits, combined with their lack of moral scruples, allow them to perform in manipulative and exploitative ways.
Although psychopathic tendencies are associated with harmful behaviors, they also offer certain advantages in life
Machiavellianism: Those who pull the strings
Machiavellians exhibit traits such as manipulation, cold behavior and lust for power. Similar to narcissism and psychopathy, Machiavellianism has a bright side that encompasses flexibility, sharp thinking, organizational skills, self-control, negotiation skills and various influence tactics. While these qualities may seem beneficial to an organisation, they come from morally reprehensible actions, lies and manipulation. Machiavellians' ability to understand human nature and exploit it for personal gain raises ethical concerns about their suitability for leadership roles.
The dark triad in leadership positions
The Dark Triad traits show a strong link to people rising to leadership positions. Striving for personal gain, extraordinary commitment to personal interests and the use of illegitimate acts are common among those with narcissistic, psychopathic or Machiavellian tendencies. Such traits, while not universal among leaders, can create a toxic work environment characterized by incompatibility, dishonesty, emotional detachment and low intrinsic motivation in employees.
It should be noted that not all individuals in senior leadership positions exhibit Dark Triad traits. The Dark Triad represents a small subset of individuals, and the traits discussed should not be generalized to all leaders or managers.
Understanding the relationship between the Dark Triad and individuals in senior leadership positions reveals a complex interplay between personality traits and leadership effectiveness. While some of the subclinical traits associated with the Dark Triad may have some benefits in terms of innovation, organizational skills, and flexibility, their morally reprehensible actions and manipulative nature raise concerns about their long-term impact on organizations and employee well-being. Finding a balance between positive leadership qualities and ethical behaviour is crucial to the success and sustainability of any organisation.
Source: Schwarzinger, D. (2020). Die Dunkle Triade der Persönlichkeit in der Personalauswahl.
source: WELT - "Warum radikal rücksichtslose Menschen weiter kommen 2021".
