Narcissistic Leadership 1
Narcissistic Leadership
Dole Smith
Liberty University
CJUS 610: Leadership, Ethics, and Policing
Dr. Yuri Tuppince
9/19/2023
Author Note
I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Cristy Smith
Email: cmsmith72@liberty.edu
Narcissistic Leadership 2
Abstract
An individual’s core values are the characteristics that are formed throughout one’s life and how
individuals define their leadership style. An individual’s core values define the type of person
they are when it comes to their personality, their behavior, and their characteristics. All of these
areas can impact their decision-making. The core values an individual has can influence his/her
leadership style resulting in various leadership styles toward employees and subordinates. The
goal of a leader is to bring an organization or company's goals to fruition and sometimes leaders
will do whatever it takes to achieve that goal. In this paper, the traits, definitions, and impact on
the organization of a narcissistic leader and a covenant leader will be clearly outlined. This paper
will also explain an organizational plan that can be put into place in a law enforcement agency.
This plan will be based on the covenant leadership style.
Narcissistic Leadership 3
Narcissistic Leadership (2 references)
Narcissism was labeled a mental disorder in 1898 by a British physician by the name of
Havelock Ellis (Mitra & Fluyau, 2023). The disorder is named after Narcissus, a mythological
figure who fell in love with his own reflection (Mitra & Fluyau, 2023). Sigmund Freud states
that narcissism is a stage in child development that is normal, but it becomes a disorder when it
still shows up after puberty (Mitra & Fluyau, 2023). Narcissism can be characterized by an
individual with an inflated self-image, an unreasonably high sense of their own importance, an
addiction to fantasies of great success, power, attractiveness, beauty, or ideal love, the need to
seek attention and admiration, lack of understanding and empathy for others, taking advantage of
others, envying others, or believe others envy them (Mitra & Fluyau, 2023). This doesn't mean
that if you have high self-esteem for yourself that. You are a narcissist, but if that self-love goes
beyond reason, then it may develop into narcissism. There are many different types of narcissism
with scholars recognizing five main types. The first type is antagonistic narcissism, which is
someone who displays the usual signs of narcissism but is also extremely hostile and has an
unforgiving nature (Zajenkowski & Szymaniak, 2019). A covert narcissist is not as bold as
others. It is closeted but still displays the usual signs of narcissism through passive-aggressive
means (Zajenkowski & Szymaniak, 2019). Communal narcissists clearly display signs of
narcissism but present themselves as caring and extremely community-minded (Zajenkowski &
Szymaniak, 2019). Overt narcissists are the most obvious type and display classic behaviors of a
narcissist (Zajenkowski & Szymaniak, 2019). Lastly, malignant narcissists are highly abusive
and receive a sense of satisfaction from hurting others, manipulating people, and lying to gain
money, etc (Zajenkowski & Szymaniak, 2019). Can narcissistic personality disorder be treated in
Narcissistic Leadership 4
an individual? Yes, through extensive and consistent therapy narcissism can be treated (Perrotta,
2020).
Narcissistic Leadership
When you think of a good leader, there are many traits people look for in individuals.
Individuals tend to want bold, confident, and strong-willed leaders who challenge conventional
thinking, are not slowed by self-doubt or criticism, and have a creative and out-of-the-box vision
for the company or country they will serve. There have been many great leaders in our time and
there will be many more to come, but many great leaders could turn out to be arrogant and
entitled. They can turn out to be impulsive instead of bold, lack empathy, exploit others, and
ignore expert advice. In short, they could be a narcissist in disguise. Narcissistic behavior traits
include dominance, hostility, and arrogance, which can influence their leadership style (Perrotta,
2020).
Weaknesses of a Narcissistic Leader
A weakness of having a narcissistic leader is their sensitivity to criticism of all kinds,
good or bad. Narcissists are very sensitive and because of their extreme sensitivity, they tend to
completely dismiss feelings and emotions altogether (Choi & Phan, 2021). This creates a lack of
accountability on their part. They feel uncomfortable when others express their feelings,
especially negative ones, and keep all other individuals at arm’s length (Choi & Phan, 2021).
This can be detrimental in an organization since good leaders should desire to have some type of
bond with their employees. Criticism, even constructive criticism, can make a narcissistic
individual feel attacked and can involve feelings of anger and violence (Choi & Phan, 2021). A
narcissistic individual can also feel as though the criticizing individual is threatening their self-
image, their confidence, and their vision for the future (Choi & Phan, 2021).
Narcissistic Leadership 5
Another weakness can be the fact that narcissists in leadership are poor listeners. They
often do not listen when they feel their character, decisions, actions, etc., are being threatened or
attacked (Choi & Phan, 2021). They believe that they do not have to listen to their subordinates
for many reasons. For example, they were able to get to the position they were in without the
help of their subordinates.
Being a successful leader often means leading with empathy. Leaders should be able to
put themselves in their subordinates' shoes and understand their motivations, feelings, and
perspectives to effectively lead them. A leader who lacks empathy, such as a narcissistic leader,
can make decisions that are not beneficial or can negatively affect the team or its mission (Choi
& Phan, 2021). Having empathy is a vital leadership quality because an individual can
understand others, connect with others, see the world from different perspectives, and make
decisions that are beneficial for their employees (Choi & Phan, 2021). It is hard for a narcissist to
be empathetic because they don’t trust anyone and would rather have “yes men” around them
instead of open communication (Choi & Phan, 2021).
Lastly, narcissistic-led organizations are always in internal competition due to the leader’s
intense desire to compete (Choi & Phan, 2021). This can lead to organization members
consistently being in competition with one another or company-wide competition with other
companies (Choi & Phan, 2021). The narcissistic leader’s desire to win at everything they do is
due to the promise of glory and the lingering danger of extinction because of not being the best
(Choi & Phan, 2021).
Strengths of a Narcissistic Leader
Surprisingly, the collective image in which many individuals imagine the characteristics
of a great leader are many characteristics of a narcissist (2018). There are two main reasons for a
Narcissistic Leadership 6
narcissist being a good leader. These reasons are their compelling visions for the future of
organizations and their ability to attract a following of loyal individuals (2018). Narcissists who
can be productive will naturally see the big picture of an idea (2018). While narcissists may have
their big ideas, when it comes to the small details, such as managing problems, finding the
probabilities and statistics, and how to carry out objectives, they often lack experience in this
area. (2018). This allows them to think big and create various “what-if" scenarios knowing they
will have someone else deal with the smaller details because their inflated self-image and belief
that they are extremely special has led to a lack of training (2018).
Secondly, narcissists have the vision but no plan to actually bring the vision to life.
Narcissists need individuals to follow them and are gifted in attracting followers (2018).
Narcissists are extremely charismatic and incredible orators (2018). Their magnetic personalities
and strong ability to sweet talk in any situation trick their audience into thinking they know what
they are doing.
Organizational benefits and pitfalls of a narcissistic leader
Organizational Benefits of a Narcissistic Leader
A benefit for an organization to have a narcissistic leader is that they are more willing to
take risks. Narcissists are known to be impulsive and because they have an inflated version of
their self-image they believe anything they do will be successful (Wang & Jiao, 2022). When
running a business, one must be prepared to take risks that can pay dividends (Wang & Jiao,
2022). Individuals who are cautious, will not take these same risks and may miss out on
opportunities for the company or country they are leading. Narcissists, on the other hand, are
willing to take these risks, which gives them an advantage because they take the opportunities
that others are not willing to and this can reap great benefits.
Narcissistic Leadership 7
Another advantage for companies that have narcissistic leaders is that their leaders can be
“the bad guy” when it's necessary. Poor leaders stop themselves from making tough decisions
because they want to be liked by others (Wang & Jiao, 2022). This can cause the leader to lose
the respect of some of their subordinates because they are viewed as a pushover by organization
members. Narcissists, mostly overt narcissists, are unusually very prepared to make an unpopular
decision especially if that decision benefits the narcissist (Wang & Jiao, 2022). Oddly enough,
this can create a view of a strong leader due to the fact that many organization members fear and
respect the narcissist. Not all narcissistic leaders are okay with not being liked by the majority.
Some want to be liked by their staff but are willing to do what is best for themself. Lastly,
narcissists think big and have big plans. A big vision for the future gives an organization a higher
ceiling to strive to achieve. As previously stated, narcissists have no sense of caution, and
because of this, they have the ability to push a company to greater heights that other individuals
would not be able to think about.
Organizational Pitfalls of a Narcissistic Leader
A narcissistic leader taking risks can be a benefit and a disadvantage. There are some
ideas that work out, giving them more confidence and the confidence to take bigger risks without
listening to the words of their council (Wang & Jiao, 2022). They will continue to “roll the dice,”
until the inevitable happens and their luck runs out and affects the organization and the
organizational members.
Another benefit that can also be a disadvantage is a narcissist’s ability to be “The Bad
Guy.” Some narcissists abuse their position and create toxic work environments by bullying staff,
displaying a lack of understanding and empathy, and possibly making unpopular decisions that
can be detrimental to the staff and the organization (Wang & Jiao, 2022). Over time, this hostile
Narcissistic Leadership 8
work environment can cause individuals to leave causing the organization to be understaffed and
stressful (Wang & Jiao, 2022).
Lastly, a narcissist can ruin the morality of the staff. Narcissists are known for taking the
praise and approval for the many events that go right in an organization (Wang & Jiao, 2022).
They are also notorious for passing the blame to other organizational members when events go
wrong in an organization (Wang & Jiao, 2022). Narcissistic behavior such as this can cause
teams to weaken and cause discourse among organizational members which can damage the
quality of work and exterminate businesses. This can create a hostile work environment which
leads to turnover, a decrease in employee engagement and so much more.
What is covenant leadership?
A covenant leader is an individual who prioritizes the needs of the organization and the
organizational members over their own needs and interests (Silver & Franz, 2021). Covenant
leaders are usually humble, and selfless, have a sense of purpose, and values they consistently
live by (Silver & Franz, 2021). Leaders and their staff who actively engage in a covenant
leadership relationship can benefit the mission and the goal of the organization. The covenant
leadership relationship is one that has to be agreed upon to be reciprocal between the leaders of
an organization and its members. This is because the relationship is based on trust, commitment,
motivation, and respect (Silver & Franz, 2021). A leader in a covenant-leader relationship has no
desire to manipulate or negatively influence subordinates and has a realization and understanding
that each person in this relationship has a part to play in the success of the organization (Silver &
Franz, 2021). A leader in a covenant-leader relationship also has a vision and a mission they
operate from and their point of view is not stirred by the opinions and criticisms of other
organizational subordinates (Silver & Franz, 2021). This makes for a great leader because they
Narcissistic Leadership 9
lead with open communication, consider the opinions of others, and have a general satisfaction,
not on what others can do for them but on knowing they have made the best decision based on
their covenant. The traits of covenant leaders are leaders who care about clarity in the message
and in the organization, consistency in actions and statements, and contentment in their values,
the values of the company, and the decisions made for the company (Silver & Franz, 2021).
Compare and contrast narcissistic vs. covenant
Narcissistic leadership and covenant leadership differ in many ways. A narcissistic leader
only cares about the agenda they have for themselves and the company. In contrast, a covenant
leader has mutual respect for their subordinates and understands it takes both leaders and
organizational members to work as a team to continually guide the company in a positive
direction. A big difference between the narcissistic leadership style and the covenant leadership
style is that it is hard to define the bad traits of a covenant leader. The covenant leadership style
is one that is morally correct and this makes it harder to define negative traits of the leadership
style. The narcissistic leadership style is all about the self and whatever they can do to help
themselves. This leadership style makes it easier to define negative traits because it discards the
opinions and the emotions of others. Another difference between the narcissistic leadership style
and the covenant leadership style is that a narcissistic leadership style is generally characterized
by the leader’s strong sense of entitlement and self (Klughart, 2018). Lastly, the difference
between the narcissistic leadership style and the covenant leadership style is their specific
character traits. Covenant leaders are humble and are committed to being people of integrity.
Leaders who use the covenant leadership style, care about the organizational members, their
contribution to the organization, and everyone impacted by the organization. They recognize
their influence on the entire company and choose to be honest in everything they do, which helps
Narcissistic Leadership 10
build trust between the staff and its leader. This can positively affect an organization because it
creates a great work environment for the staff and the company can achieve its goals. This is the
complete opposite of the narcissistic leadership style. As previously stated, narcissistic leaders
will do any and everything they think will benefit themselves and put the blame on someone else
if and when the plan goes wrong.
Covenant Leadership Principles Plan
A plan to change a department leadership style to a covenant leadership style would not
be easy and may take years to accomplish. If negative emotions, doubts, anger, and fear are
already present within a department, there might be lots of pushback because of the vulnerability
of the department. Due to all the negativity in the now vulnerable department, it will take time to
build the value of honesty and trustworthy relationships within the department. Employees of the
department will be hesitant, lack trust, and be distant towards the change simply because that is
not what they are used to between leadership and employees. As a new leader of the department,
establishing trust is a must and the first step to further push the department towards covenant
leadership. Once this relationship is established, the new leaders can start the work on
incorporating the core values that they believe in the organization and to organizational
members. Covenant leaders have many morally right core values. The core values usually
include trust, communication, listening, honesty, selflessness, self-motivation, and patience
(2022). The biggest challenge will be the change in leadership style and the leader of a
department. It can be difficult for individuals to change and to trust that this change will be
beneficial (2022). That is why implementing a new leadership style along with a new leader will
be a long and difficult task. Anyone affected by the change in leadership, whether it be the
organizational members, citizens, or the community, needs to see positive actions along with
Narcissistic Leadership 11
positive words consistently for the success of this change. Another big challenge is how the
community the department serves is going to view this new change. It might take the community
more time to adjust and then trust this new leadership style especially if they have a negative
view of the department to begin with (2022). Since it will take the community longer to trust the
department changes, it will take the work of the department staff and the department lead to work
together to show their positive efforts for change in the department and the community. The
success of the new covenant leadership style will be a long ongoing process but will have a
positive outcome. Transitioning from the current environment to something new might cause
pushback from employees but will have a positive outcome in the long run. Over time, the
pushback will cease and the hesitation will subside, but employees need to consistently see that a
positive change is taking effect. As these changes truly start to take effect, this can in turn change
the working atmosphere into a positive one for employees which can then translate to the
community and how the police department members treat them. Even through all the pushback
and years of seeing no real change, a covenant leader should “stay the course” and continue to
implement their values, gain the trust of the department, and know that their changes will bring
positivity and success to the police department in due time.
Christian worldview
In Daniel 4: 1-35 (Bible), there was a King by the name of Nebuchadnezzar. King
Nebuchadnezzar is a perfect example of how narcissism can cause an individual to lose
everything. Nebuchadnezzar was a narcissistic leader because he was self-centered and believed
he was better than anyone else. He even saw himself as being bigger and more superior than God
himself and he wanted to depict that version of himself to everyone who was under him.
Nebuchadnezzar was arrogant and narcissistic and because of that, God cursed him to become
Narcissistic Leadership 12
like a wild animal. In his animal-like state, Nebuchadnezzar was able to to exalt God and
acknowledge that He (God) is the most high and God restored him back to his sane mind and
human state. Nebuchadnezzar’s story of narcissism is a learning opportunity for all Christians so
that we can avoid making this mistake. This story teaches us that the right way to live is to
humble ourselves and submit our lives to God. We are not superior to God nor should we believe
that lie.
Conclusion
As a leader of an organization, there should always be steps to try and improve their
leadership style as well as what works best for the staff that looks up to them for guidance and
direction. There is no one leadership style that works best for all companies because all
companies are different and all individuals are different. Regardless, leaders need to understand
that their leadership style can impact not only the staff but the company as a whole. A leader who
is effective should be able to build a foundation of trust and honesty, have an adaptable
leadership style, build positive relationships with their employees, and develop a clear, shared
mission for the company.
Narcissistic Leadership 13
References
Bible, ESV.
Choi, Y., & Phan, W. M. J. (2021). Narcissistic leaders: The good, the bad, and
recommendations. Organ. Dyn, 100868.
Criminal victimization, 2020 - Bureau of Justice Statistics. U.S. Department of Justice Office of
Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Statistics. (2022).
https://bjs.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh236/files/media/document/cv20.pdf
Klughart, C. (2018). Narcissistic leadership in contrast to Covenant Leadership Within
Law Enforcement. Academia.edu.
https://www.academia.edu/13589795/Narcissistic_Leadership_in_Contrast_to_Covenant
_Leadership_Within_Law_Enforcement#:~:text=Covenant%20is%20full%20of
%20giving,need%20to%20be%20in%20control.
Mitra P, Fluyau D. Narcissistic Personality Disorder. [Updated 2023 Mar 13]. In: StatPearls
[Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556001/
Narcissism Pros and Cons in Leadership. Leadership. (2018).
https://sites.psu.edu/leadership/2018/09/10/narcissism-pros-and-cons-in-leadership/
Perrotta, G. (2020). Narcissism and psychopathological profiles: definitions, clinical contexts,
neurobiological aspects and clinical treatments. J Clin Cases Rep, 4(85), 12-25.
Narcissistic Leadership 14
Silver, S., & Franz, T. (2021). Meaningful partnership at work: How the workplace covenant
ensures mutual accountability and success between leaders and teams. Productivity
Press.
Wang H, Jiao R, Li F. (2022). Research on the Effect of Narcissistic Leadership on
Employee Job Embeddedness. Front Psychol. 2022;13:927529. doi:
10.3389/fpsyg.2022.927529. PMID: 35874331; PMCID: PMC9301298.
Zajenkowski, M., & Szymaniak , K. (2019). Narcissism between facets and domains. The
relationships between two types of narcissism and aspects of the Big Five. American
Psychological Association. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2021-50204-007
https://sites.psu.edu/leadership/2018/09/10/narcissism-pros-and-cons-in-leadership/
