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Encyclopedia of Business and Professional Ethics pp 1–3Cite as

Narcissistic Leadership

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Synonyms

Egotistical leadership; Machiavellian leadership; Psychopathic leadership; Toxic leadership

Definition

Narcissistic leadership is understood as existing when the head of an organization or part of an organization is self-interested, self-admiring, self-absorbed, and self-prioritizing. In other words, the organizational chief puts their own needs, aims, and objectives before those of the organizations and followers they are supposed to be guiding and managing. Suboptimal organizational outcomes are associated with such leadership, because there may often be a lack of alignment with organizational objectives and the personal objectives of the leader.

Like the definition of a psychopath or a Machiavellian, the definition of a narcissistic leader is human-made and has changed over time. The common definition of a narcissist is anchored in the myth of Narcissus. However, a degree of conceptual drift has occurred. For example, Falkenbach, Howe, and Falki report that extreme...

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References

  • Alwin N, Blackburn R, Davidson K, Hilton M, Logan C, Shine J (2006) Understanding personality disorder: a report by the British Psychological Society. The British Psychological Society, Leicester

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  • Falkenbach DM, Howe JR, Falki M (2013) Using self-esteem to disaggregate psychopathy, narcissism, and aggression. Personal Individ Differ 54(7):815–820

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tasmanian School of Business and Economics, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia

    Clive R. Boddy

Authors
  1. Clive R. Boddy
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Correspondence to Clive R. Boddy .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Deborah C Poff

  2. Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Alex C. Michalos

Section Editor information

  1. Tasmanian School of Business and Economics, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia

    Clive R. Boddy

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Boddy, C.R. (2019). Narcissistic Leadership. In: Poff, D., Michalos, A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Business and Professional Ethics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23514-1_5-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23514-1_5-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-23514-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-23514-1

  • eBook Packages: Religion and PhilosophyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Narcissistic Leadership
    Published:
    26 March 2019

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23514-1_5-2

  2. Original

    Narcissistic Leadership
    Published:
    16 February 2018

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23514-1_5-1

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