Dark Triad Personality Traits in Leadership and Workplace Behavior
Summary
The Dark Triad refers to the interrelated personality traits of narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy, each of which has been shown to influence leadership emergence, decision-making and ethical conduct at work. Narcissistic leaders, driven by grandiosity and a need for admiration, may galvanise short-term change but often at the cost of employee morale and long-term cohesion. Machiavellian leaders employ strategic manipulation and opportunism to advance organisational goals or personal agendas, frequently eroding trust and fostering cynicism among staff. Psychopathic leaders, characterised by callousness, impulsivity and low empathy, can inflict severe harm on organisational culture through bullying, unethical gambits and a disregard for stakeholder welfare. Across contexts, these traits interact with structural factors—such as organisational design, governance and ethical climates—to shape outcomes for performance, innovation and employee wellbeing. Recent work highlights how situational cues and follower characteristics may activate or inhibit these dark tendencies, suggesting avenues for mitigation through selection, training and ethical leadership frameworks.
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Dark Triad Personality Traits in Leadership and Workplace Behavior publication trend
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Technical terms
Dark Triad: A constellation of three personality traits—narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy—linked to manipulation, self-interest and ethical transgressions.
Narcissistic rivalry: The antagonistic component of narcissism marked by devaluation of others and defensive aggression when self-esteem is threatened.
Abusive supervision: Subordinate perceptions of sustained hostile behaviours by a leader, including verbal aggression, public ridicule and undermining.
Machiavellianism: A strategic orientation characterised by cynicism, emotional detachment and the use of manipulation to achieve personal goals.
Psychopathy: A personality profile defined by impulsivity, lack of remorse or empathy, and a predisposition to exploit others without guilt.
References
- Organizational structure and store performance in the grocery retail industry: The moderating role of narcissistic leadership. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services (2024).
- Triggered Abuse: How and Why Leaders with Narcissistic Rivalry React to Follower Deviance. Journal of Business Ethics (2024).
- Psychopathic Leadership A Case Study of a Corporate Psychopath CEO. Journal of Business Ethics (2015).
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