Is your boss a narcissist?

The number of narcissists in leadership positions is disproportionately high. Not surprising, since they’re driven, lack empathy (meaning they can make drastic decisions without feeling bad about it), and they have such big egos that people are often more likely to promote them. So the chances that you currently have — or have had — a narcissistic manager are quite high. I personally found the narcissism checklist for managers extremely eye-opening.
1. They charm you
The narcissistic manager will do everything in their power to make you like them. A narcissist wants to be admired and is clever enough to win you over by being charming and investing time in you. But be careful — this can change at any moment.
2. You’re either with them or against them
A narcissistic boss might pull you completely into their inner circle and share everything with you, but the moment you criticize them or disappoint them in some way, it’s likely game over. For the narcissist, there is no middle ground: you’re either a friend or an enemy, nothing in between.
3. Zero empathy
If you ask to start work an hour later because your boyfriend just broke up with you, or if you can’t come in because your child has to go to the hospital, the narcissist won’t show any understanding. Empathy simply isn’t in their vocabulary.
4. Belittling and excluding people
I once had a manager who made a harsh joke, and when someone pointed out that there was a woman — me — in the room, he replied, “A woman? I only see May-Britt, but I wouldn’t call her a woman.” And trust me, that wasn’t meant as a joke. If I had seen the checklist back then, I might have found comfort in thinking the poor man just had a disorder. Narcissists love to play divide and conquer. They’ll form cliques, favor certain people, and make others look foolish.
5. Never owning up to mistakes and stealing ideas
Had a brilliant idea in a meeting? There’s a good chance your boss will present it the next day as if it was their own. The good things always come from them, and they never make mistakes — or at least they’ll never admit to them. They’ll twist everything around to avoid any blame.
6. Constant ego polishing
Talking about their successes, casually flashing their Rolex, maybe even “accidentally” leaving their banking app open on their desk. Their ego barely fits in the room — and sometimes it’s so overwhelming that you need to open a window just to breathe.