Narcissism in the Workplace

Book excerpt: Possessing a positive self-attitude, being self-confident, and having high self-esteem are worthwhile attributes in both work and personal life; some take these positive attributes to the extreme and become self-absorbed, self-adoring, self-centered, and show little empathy for the problems and concerns of others. In brief, they are narcissists and they can be especially problematic in business settings. This book presents information about narcissism in the workplace that is based both on empirical research and on opinion derived from systematic observation. The author uses case studies and real life examples to shed new light on workplace narcissism. The author describes both the positive and negative features of narcissism and presents strategies and tactics for dealing constructively with narcissistic traits and behaviors in oneself and in others. Self-tests and questionnaires found throughout the volume enable readers to reflect on their standing on a variety of behaviors and attitudes associated with narcissism. Each chapter includes a section labeled 'Guidelines for Application and Practice' that provides practical advice for applying the research and theories presented within. Further, each chapter concludes with a case history of narcissism, accompanied by a brief analysis of the narcissistic aspects of the case's subject. Narcissism in the Workplace serves as a manual for capitalizing on the positive aspects of narcissism and minimizing its potential negative effects. Intended for human resource professionals, researchers, and students and scholars of organizational behavior, organizational psychology, human relations and leadership, this book will also appeal to a broad range of serious minded readers who wish to learn more about, combat the difficulties of, or employ the benefits of narcissism.