Know the Narcissists Working in Workplace Operations 69

Know the Narcissists Working in Workplace Operations 69

Narcissism and subtypes of narcissism, exist in a range of  ideas, or opinions depicting different harmful personality trait. These personality disorder in your work force or in personal relationship management, may be harmful, and the best thing for safe operations is,  to set a protective  boundary and avoid relationship with such personalities.

Table of Contents

General

What is Narcissism

Signs of Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Types of Narcissism

General

Earlier perfectionism was discussed in reference to workplace environment. Now Narcissism is being discussed. Though it is a term that describes the personality traits, but the personality traits play an important role in managing the workplace operation. The narcissism associated personality traits in the workforce of the workplace affects the emotional intelligence development and thereby the work output is affected.

It is important to develop Emotional Intelligence in workforce and therefore it is important (in reference to narcissists)  to

Find the symptoms

Causes

Treatment

But  let us first understand the word Narcissism.

What is Narcissism

Narcissism means excessive interest in or admiration of oneself and one’s physical appearance and abilities.

Need for praise, belief in one’s superiority, and sense of entitlement might be just a few traits you associate with narcissism.

Some of the Synonyms of the word Narcissism are as below,  and described to have a better understanding of Narcissism in reference to workplace operations

Conceit  –  excessive pride ( pride – a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements) in oneself. (Excessive pride is not desirable at workplace).

Self-conceit – an exaggerated (overestimated, inflated) opinion of one’s own qualities or abilities. (The exaggerated opinion is not workable in workplace operations.)

Self-love – regard for one’s own well-being and happiness. (Workplace operation care for workforce operations.)

Self-obsession – preoccupation with one’s own emotions, interests, or situation.(It is not a desirable personality trait for successful workplace operations)

Self-centredness  preoccupied with oneself and one’s affairs

Egoism – the practice of talking and thinking about oneself excessively because of an undue sense of self-importance.·

Egocentrism – thinking only of oneself, without regard for the feelings or desires of others

All above terms enhances our understanding of the word Narcissism and the definition shall help in assessing narcissism within, irrespective of causative factors.

The cause factor further addressed may not all be valid for narcissist. But if found valid must be considered for improvisations in narcissistic personality disorder  (NPD)  in individual’s personality.

Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) or megalomania

(an unnaturally strong wish for power and control, or the belief that you are very much more important and powerful than you really are )is a personality disorder characterized by a long-term pattern of exaggerated feelings of self-importance, an excessive craving for admiration, and struggles with empathy. People with NPD often spend much time daydreaming about achieving power and success and perceive injustice for failing to do so. This is a pattern of obsessive thoughts and unstable sense of identity, often to cope with a sub-par real life….WIKI

The narcissism starts from the age at which child start developing its understanding process, that is before adolescence, in all genders. (आत्मकामी  in hindi language  )

Narcissistic personality disorder is characterized by a series of emotional and behavioural disturbances and are found in persons who are less emotionally intelligent.

Signs of Narcissistic Personality Disorder

The meaning of following word as defined above, may be considered to find the narcissistic symptoms in an individual.

Conceit  .

Self-conceit

Self-love

Self-obsession

Self-centredness  

Egoism

Egocentrism

Grandiosity

Increased sense of self-importance and self-esteem

Tendency to exaggerate talents and achievements

Constant need for attention and recognition

Selfish goals

Inability to tolerate criticism and constructive feedback

Constant preoccupation for beauty, power, success, and fame

Envy towards other people’s achievements

Failure to forgive and forget other people’s wrongdoings

Feelings of inner emptiness and emotional numbness may be narcissistic

Tendency to forge superficial friendships

Preoccupation for sexual performance

Types of Narcissism

Overt Narcissists have to be the best or worst at all cost.

(Overt – Openly)

Grandiosity

Ambitiousness

Knowledgeable but egocentric perceptions

Disrespect wealth

Interested in social political events

Work hard to seek appreciation

Have a feeling of being better than others- not able to maintain relationship

Wants other’s attention, expose themselves, easy to find

They consider themselves the most competent, and control every action of others with a desire of constant preoccupation for beauty, power, success, and fame. This provides them a wellness feeling.

Exaggerated  Narcissism ( constant need for attention and validation)

Anyone asking for constant attention of others for oneself is Narcissist.

Not only this, afterwards he wants you to validate or justify his attention grabbing. There is constant need of attention and validation. Narcissist does not satisfy himself with your attention and validation once or twice, but he is very much hungry for attention and validation. Your attention and validation efforts are never enough for him.

The Narcissist act in many ways at workplace to seek your attention. The above-described personality trait further tells that there is a great feeling of insecurity in them.

Perfectionism

The dictionary meaning of the related word are as below:

Perfect – completely good; without faults or weaknesses

Perfection – the state of being perfect or without fault.

Perfectionism – refusal to accept any standard short of perfection.

Going through the above meanings one must understand the importance of this word in management of workplace and associated management in different discipline to get successful output. A perfect machine resource  is different from a human resource as regards to work output. Human resource has weaknesses and faults embedded in their personality  traits.

Let us explore definition of  perfectionism.

Perfectionism is often defined as the need to be or appear to be perfect, or even to believe that it is possible to achieve perfection. It is typically viewed as a positive trait rather than a flaw. People may use the term “healthy perfectionism” to describe or justify perfectionistic behaviour.  ….Wikipedia

Perfectionist’s personality traits.

To have unrealistically high expectations.

Setting unrealistic standard.

Expecting same perfection standard  from others also.

Getting disappointed frequently in their operations.

Remain unsatisfied with their actions and approach, even when the job is over.

Please refer to following posts for more of my view on Perfectionism

Understanding perfectionism

Overcoming Perfectionism

Great need for control

In continuation to their requirements for superiority feelings, constant attention and validation,  and perfectionism , the narcissist is  insecure and disappointed and want to remain in need for great control on them so that they not go away from work path line/. They want great control should be exercised on them.

(In the process of getting more attention and control , during interaction, if their storyline about the work operations gets violated, they feel disappointed and upset. And, they do not feel responsible for any wrongdoing at workplace.)

Narcissists have not set of boundaries encircling their attitudes

The following learned author has suggested six boundaries  associated with human personality traits.

Elizabeth Earnshaw, LMFTLicensed Marriage & Family Therapist

1. Physical boundaries

2. Emotional boundaries

3. Time boundaries

4. Sexual boundaries

5. Intellectual boundaries

6. Material boundaries

Narcissists do not believe in such boundaries. And are free to think act at any  workplace environment. They also feel that there are no boundaries for others also and as such every other one feels and think as they (Narcissists) do.

They have no developed emotional intelligence.

Narcissists have lack of ability to understand and share the feelings of one another. They are not emotionally intelligent and as such they carry following personality traits in them (for example)

aggressiveness, demanding, ego problems, bossy, confrontational, easily disturbed, poor listener, impulsive, passive, resistance to change, non-responsiveness, stubborn, hard to please, and believe in perfectionism etcetera.

The other factors that provide sign of narcissism are as follows.

Selfish goals and narcissistic ideals

Inability to tolerate criticism and constructive feedback

Envy towards other people’s achievements

Failure to forgive and forget other people’s wrongdoings

Perceiving everything as a threat. They lack ability to differentiate between good or bad, negative, or positive and carry forward their operations based on intuition or

emotional reasoning only, as they understand, no logic is used in decision making.

Their conscience is not clear and take wrong decision. They have no  understanding of good or bad, right, or wrong. But even then, they have tendencies to split anything in good or bad category of their own. The behaviour trainer may find very difficult to handle and train them, as they are not willing to receive any good value.

No regret for shameful action or behaviour.