Let’s break down the signs and red flags to help you gauge exactly where on the narcissism scale your boss might fall.
1. The Obsession with Power and Titles
First things first, a narcissistic boss LOVES their title. They won’t let you forget they’re “Senior Vice President of Operations” or whatever, even if you’ve known it for years. Watch how they introduce themselves – do they use their title like it’s their first name?
2. The Art of Credit Snatching
Narcissistic bosses struggle to share the spotlight, so they’ll snatch any chance to boost their reputation. If you see this happening repeatedly, there’s a good chance your boss leans into narcissistic territory.
Test It Out: Try bringing up your idea casually in a meeting to see if they get cagey or defensive. If they’re narcissistic, they’ll try to turn the attention back to them somehow.
3. They Don’t Handle Criticism
A little constructive feedback shouldn’t feel like a minefield, right? Not for a narcissist. If even mild suggestions send your boss into a huff, or if they treat it like a personal attack, watch out. Narcissistic bosses can’t handle anything that dents their perfect self-image, so criticism – even the helpful kind – tends to go down like a lead balloon.
Clues to Watch For: Does your boss respond with defensiveness, make excuses, or redirect the blame elsewhere? A healthy, non-narcissistic boss takes feedback in stride. The narcissistic type, on the other hand, has a meltdown or finds a scapegoat.
4. Everything is About “Them”
Ever been in a meeting where your boss somehow manages to make everything revolve around their achievements or goals? They could be talking about sales targets, and suddenly, it’s a story about how they closed a massive deal in 2004. This is a classic sign of the “look at me” syndrome that marks narcissistic behavior.
Gauge It: The more often they bring the spotlight back to their glory days, personal achievements, or incredible skills, the more they’re falling on the narcissistic end.
5. Praise is a One-Way Street
Notice how your boss seems to bask in any compliments coming their way but rarely dishes them out? Narcissistic bosses thrive on admiration like plants thrive on sunlight – without it, they wilt. But for you? Crickets.
If they’re generous with praising themselves but barely acknowledge others, they might be in full “admiration mode,” where only their successes matter. On the other hand, a more balanced boss will encourage you with a solid “Well done!” now and then.
Gauge the Red Flag: Start a compliment count. If they acknowledge their brilliance in every meeting but skip over the team’s successes, you’ve likely got a narcissist on your hands.
6. They Have an Entitlement Complex
Here’s a big one: narcissists are all about entitlement. If your boss consistently acts like they deserve special treatment or perks – extra office space, early sneak peeks at everything, priority parking – it’s not just a quirk; it’s a red flag.
A narcissistic boss believes they’ve earned special privileges because, well, they’re them. This could translate to hogging the best resources, taking prime vacation slots, or treating company policy like it’s optional.
Tip: Pay attention to how they talk about entitlements, especially perks that benefit them over others. A narcissist won’t just feel entitled to their perks; they’ll feel entitled to yours too.
7. The Manipulation Game
Narcissistic people are the only ones out there trying to keep people on their toes like they are the Wizard of oz controlling some grand scheme and they are literally just being children.
Test It Out: See if their decisions tend to benefit them more than anyone else. Does every major project magically align with their personal interests or career goals?
8. Lack of Empathy
Empathy Check: If you’ve ever shared something personal or requested flexibility, observe how they respond.
A Quick Cheat Sheet
- Title Love: Obsessed with status and title.
- Credit Snatching: Steals your ideas and rebrands them.
- Criticism Aversion: Can’t handle any feedback without flipping out.
- Meeting Monopolizer: Brings the focus back to themselves, every time.
- Praise-Hoarder: Soaks up compliments, rarely gives any.
- Entitlement Complex: Believes they deserve special treatment.
- Manipulator: Plays team dynamics to their advantage.
- Empathy Vacuum: Little to no empathy for the team.
