How to avoid recruiting a narcissist. (2014)

“Recent research by MWM Consulting suggests that the unchecked personalities of senior leaders can become a major destructive force and harder to detect than other corporate threats. More than 80 CEOs, chairmen and board directors shared their experience

Jackie Switzer
The Evening Standard, 28 January 2014

Narcissistic leaders are only interested in themselves and are more likely to make risky decisions. Following the credit crunch, firms are wary about repeating past mistakes and hiring a leader who could lead to disaster.

Narcissus – the beautiful youth in Greek mythology who falls in love with his own reflection, remains gazing at his perfection and eventually dies – may not immediately remind you of the pantheon of long-serving chief executives whose decisions have seriously impacted business success. However, a recent research report by MWM Consulting on the risk of narcissistic, arrogant and power-hungry behaviour by CEOs, Taming Narcissus, suggests that the unchecked personalities of senior leaders can become a major destructive force and harder to detect than other corporate threats.

More than 80 CEOs, chairmen and board directors shared their experience (successful and unsuccessful) of identifying high-risk CEOs across 400 boards in 21 countries. Michael Reyner, managing partner at MWM, says: “If their behaviour becomes distorted and is unchecked, a once enormously positive and talented CEO can begin to imperil the business. If the CEO stops listening to advice and there are not sufficient checks and balances, the business can make flawed decisions. Equally, the culture can become corrupted with people unable to be open and say what they think, believing that they have to ingratiate themselves with the CEO.”

Download a pdf of the article here: EveningStandard28.1.14

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