Editor’s note: This article was first published in February 2013, and its references to austerity, evictions and politicians reflect the situation in Spain in 2012–2013.
A few months ago we published a study by Paul Babiak which found that most psychopaths are not locked up in institutions or prisons but running companies (Read: Think your boss is a psychopath? Scientifically, you could be right). The reason is that the definition of a psychopath includes some personal traits that are exactly the ones companies look for in a leader. This would also open up the debate about the loss of values a person can undergo in the business world.
Perhaps this article will help you check whether you are developing some form of psychopathy, whether your boss might fit the various definitions, or whether that colleague who wants to climb the company ladder at any cost may already have these kinds of tendencies. Contrary to what many people think, the psychopath is a pleasant, seductive, charming person… but that is just the facade. Just as we once asked whether talent is born or made, one thing is clear: the psychopath is not born a psychopath but made, although some enjoy the transformation along the way more than others.
1. They have a grandiose sense of self-worth.
In principle this is a good quality, since it shows confidence in our own abilities and skills. But for people who are going through this phase of psychopathy, the quality turns into arrogance: they tend to think they are far superior to the rest of humanity and, of course, much more intelligent than everyone else on the company’s staff. It is what we call thinking the world revolves around you.
2. They are prone to boredom and constantly need excitement and stimulation.
The psychopath gets bored very easily, which is why their favourite territory is constant risk-taking. The added problem is that this person lacks self-discipline, so they rarely finish what they start, because they quickly slip back into boredom. It is in that state that they tend to get on other people’s nerves, pick pointless fights or seek attention for no reason. When this person holds a management position, one of their favourite practices is mobbing.
3. Pathological liar.
They can be considered compulsive liars. The worst part is that many of these lies have nothing to do with their personal or professional life (though there will be those too). Rather, they are experts at spreading rumours about other people in order to harm them just because, or to make that person look bad so they can take their job.
4. A born manipulator.
Thanks to their coldness and superficial charm, they can get some people to do things or act recklessly in ways they would not under normal conditions. They are born strategists, and at times they can turn one group of people against another, a boss against an employee or one colleague against another.
5. Lack of remorse and guilt.
In the business world, many executives develop this trait out of necessity, since part of an executive’s job is to lay off workers and try not to think about the fact that those people have families. We see it every day in politicians who call for austerity even though they know there are families who cannot survive; in bankers sending out eviction orders even though they know the people have nowhere to live; and even a judge has to turn a blind eye so as not to think about the enforcement order they are issuing. If these people end up getting used to this environment, over time they become the kind of people who want to make a profit without thinking about the harm they cause their victims.
6. Lack of empathy.
They are unable to put themselves in other people’s shoes. They have no feelings for people in general; they are cold, contemptuous, inconsiderate and tactless.
7. Impulsive and irresponsible.
When it comes to making decisions, they tend to be impulsive. They do not think about the consequences of a decision and rarely make plans. After all, if it does not work out, they will find a way to blame someone else. They cannot resist temptation, so they tend to be promiscuous. They will not hesitate to flirt with someone of the opposite sex at work, since they tend to be irresponsible and reckless.
8. They do not accept responsibility for their own actions and take credit they have not earned.
This is one of the mistakes we included among the mistakes leaders make. If something goes wrong at the company, they will blame their team for being incompetent. If the work goes well, they will take the credit in front of their own boss. The team did not win; they won, thanks to their experience as a leader. I am sure you have seen this at more than one company.
Further reading
Featured image: Pascal Terjan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr.
