Washington, Aug 8 Working under a narcissistic boss can destroy workers' morale, increased stress levels, and even took a toll on their performance, according to a recent study.
The study was conducted to examine the narcissistic tendencies of bosses in American organizations.
Wayne Hochwarter, the Jim Moran Professor of Management in the Florida State University College of Business, asked more than 1,200 employees to provide opinions regarding the narcissistic tendencies of their immediate supervisor.
And it was found that 31 percent of workers reported that their boss is prone to exaggerate his or her accomplishments to look good in front of others, while 27 percent reported that their boss brags to others to get praise.
A total of 25 percent reported that their boss had an inflated view of himself or herself and 24 percent reported that their boss was self-centred.
In addition, 20 percent of employees reported that their boss would do a favour only if guaranteed one in return.
"Having a narcissistic boss creates a toxic environment for virtually everyone who must come in contact with this individual. The team perspective ceases to exist, and the work environment becomes increasingly stressful. Productivity typically plummets as well," said Hochwarter.
Hochwarter said that the research supports these adverse effects.
For example, those who reported working for a narcissistic boss had lower levels of job satisfaction, saw their stress levels increase over the previous year, were less appreciative of their work and organization, reported lower levels of effort and performance, and were more prone to sadness and frustration at work.
"Most organizations simply do not consider the adverse effects of narcissistic bosses on worker productivity and stress.
In fact, many companies encourage it since narcissists are often seen as outgoing and confident-traits considered necessary for success in any managerial role. However, there is a fine line between self-confidence on the one hand and selfishness that negatively affects others on the other.
Unfortunately, the needed adjustments simply do not take place in most organizations, for any number of reasons," said Hochwarter. (ANI)
