Controversy | Why narcissistic leaders always seem to come out on top

It takes a certain kind of drive and dedication to get to the position of a senior leader. It’s likely that most successful bosses across the world are ambitious, measured and analytical people, with a gift for public speaking and an acute sense of vision. However, these skills also come with universally reviled pitfalls.

Sometimes, the combination of drive and self-belief convinces leaders that their own compass is the only one they need to lead – therefore cutting out other valuable voices. In other occasions, these make leaders immune to criticism, simply convincing themselves that the feelings of others are lesser than the bottom line of profit.

Yet one of the worst traits that many oblivious leaders perpetuate amongst their workforce is an acute sense of narcissism. After a prolonged period of being at the top of the leadership triangle, it becomes harder and harder to stay grounded, especially when those around you are what we typically consider to be ‘yes men’ and whilst you may think that this accounts for just a small percentage of the population, the research of Charles O’Reilly, Professor of Management at Stanford Graduate School of Business, has suggested otherwise.

In a paper the scientist wrote in collaboration with Jennifer Chatman of the University of California, Berkeley, he spent years reviewing data on narcissistic leaders – encompassing more than 150 studies – and discovered some sobering facts.