When the spotlight always seems to find one particular colleague, when credit mysteriously flows in one direction, and when team morale slowly erodes without clear cause – you might be witnessing the impact of narcissism in your workplace.
Narcissism in professional settings isn’t just an annoyance; it’s a significant organizational liability that affects productivity, innovation, and employee wellbeing. Between 1% and 6% of Americans have narcissistic personality disorder, but many more exhibit narcissistic traits that can create havoc in professional environments.
The problem extends beyond individual interactions – narcissistic behavior, particularly from leadership, can infect entire organizational cultures and continue causing damage long after the narcissist has moved on.