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If humble people make the best leaders, why do we fall for charismatic narcissists? (2017)

“Our psychological states bias our perceptions of charismatic leaders. High anxiety makes us hungry for charisma. As a result, crises increase the search for charismatic leaders, and our tendency to perceive charisma in the leaders we already follow.”

Prof. Margarita Mayo, IE Business School in Madrid
HBR 7 April 2017.

“The research is clear: when we choose humble, unassuming people as our leaders, the world around us becomes a better place. …Yet instead of following the lead of these unsung heroes, we appear hardwired to search for superheroes: over-glorifying leaders who exude charisma.

“…Why are such leaders more likely to rise to the top? One study suggests that despite being perceived as arrogant, narcissistic individuals radiate “an image of a prototypically effective leader.”

“…It’s not that charismatic and narcissistic people can’t ever make good leaders. In some circumstances, they can …And it’s not that humble leaders can’t ever be charismatic.

“Researchers agree that we could classify charismatic leaders as “negative” or “positive” by their orientation toward pursuing their self-interested goals versus those of their groups …The problem is that we select negative charismatic leaders much more frequently than in the limited situations where the risk they represent might pay off.

“…If humble leaders are more effective than narcissistic leaders, why do we so often choose narcissistic individuals to lead us?

“The “romance of leadership” hypothesis suggests that we generally have a biased tendency to understand social events in terms of leadership and people tend to romanticize the figure of the leader.

My own research shows that our psychological states can also bias our perceptions of charismatic leaders. High levels of anxiety make us hungry for charisma. As a result, crises increase not only the search for charismatic leaders, but also our tendency to perceive charisma in the leaders we already follow …The paradox is that we may then choose to support the very leaders who are less likely to bring us success. In a time of crisis, it’s easy to be seduced by superheroes who could come and “rescue” us, but who possibly then plunge us into greater peril.

“… Essentially, we have the leaders we deserve. As we collectively select and construct our leaders to satisfy our own needs and desires, we can choose humility or socialized charisma over narcissism.”

Access the full article here: If humble people make the best leaders, why do we fall for charismatic narcissists?

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