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Three questions humble leaders ask. (2016)

“To prevent excessive narcissism, leaders need to look for critical voices, adversity and outside contact.

Annet Aris, Adjunct Professor, INSEAD.
Insead Knowledge, 23 Aug 2016.

A degree of narcissism is required to be an inspirational and visionary leader … Too much narcissism, however, leads to megalomania, manipulative behaviour and a focus on one’s own power and status instead of the interests of the company, employees and clients.

The foundation is laid by a combination of innate personality traits and childhood experiences. It only truly reveals itself as an individual attains increasing power and success, and is most obvious in organisations with large hierarchical distances where great importance is attached to status.

To prevent excessive narcissism, leaders need to look at three aspects of their lives and regularly ask themselves: am I surrounded by enough critical voices? Is there enough adversity? And, have I kept contact with the world outside the office?

Access the full article here: Three questions humble leaders ask.

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