and feel entitled to “ extras .” Corruption easily follows entitlement , because you can begin to feel above the law , as if the rules that apply to lesser mortals somehow don ’ t apply to you .
Be wary if you find yourself consistently hosting pity parties in your head .
That can be an indication that you ’ re developing a victim mentality , which is often a precursor to feelings of entitlement and the temptations that follow .
5 . Taking Advantage of Others Narcissism blinds leaders to the needs , dreams , and rights of others , and it creates leaders who use people rather than serving people . If your thoughts are all about you , you will view others through a narcissistic lens : how they can serve you , how they can advance your goals , whether or not they are worth your time and investment . As a leader , you do have to maintain the integrity of your cause , but you can ’ t burn through people in service of your cause . Even if someone moves on from your group , you can still value and honor the relationship . Also , don ’ t make the mistake of limiting your attention and care just to the people who will help you reach your objectives . The way you treat people who aren ’ t useful to you is a good litmus test of your character as a leader .
6 . Broken or Limited Relationships In their book The Narcissism Epidemic : Living in the Age of Entitlement , authors Jean Twenge and Keith Campbell state that narcissists tend to lack “ emotionally warm , caring , and loving relationships with other people .” They add , “ This is a main difference between a narcissist and someone merely high in self-esteem : the high self-esteem person who ’ s not narcissistic values relationships , but the narcissist does not .” In other words , self-centered , self-absorbed people tend to have poor relationships — but they don ’ t even care because they don ’ t value connection with others in the first place .
As leaders , our relationships serve as a barometer of our heart . They reveal how others-focused our thoughts and actions are . If we lack strong , vibrant connections with people , or if we routinely shut ourselves off from others , we may be drifting toward narcissistic patterns . On the other hand , strong , long-term relationships likely indicate that our ego is under control .
7 . Overreaction to Criticism Criticism is inevitable , especially when you are in leadership , and it can be hard to take it graciously . Temporary feelings of hurt , wounded pride , or defensiveness are probably normal . But if criticism triggers major negative reactions , you might have a problem with narcissism . These reactions could include lashing out in
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