Narcissistic Leaders…what you see and hear is not what you get

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About themselves a pretty picture the narcissistic leader will paint

Wanting everyone to believe something that ain't

Reality…

and problematically

Narcissists want everyone to believe

That everything they conceive

About themselves is true

Creating a false picture for you

To follow

Convinced that everyone will swallow

Fabrications and machinations about their leadership greatness

But inside they're a hot mess

So let's examine

Why its so easy for narcissist win

Promotions, elections

 

 

Narcissism is a personality disorder

Wherein the person too easily crosses the border

From realistic self-evaluation

To inflated self-appraisal without justification

Telling themselves, and everyone

That they're number 1

How great a leader they are

And how their own-self has gotten them this far

Skipping the part…

about those whose generosity

Has been forgotten in the narcissists “pervasive pattern of grandiosity” (American Psychiatric Association, 2000, p. 717)

 

Narcissists seek leadership for personal glory

Spouting off their success story

Never mentioning failures or accepting blame

"It's not my fault", look over there to cast shame

Exaggerating their leader ability

Putting themselves in leadership positions for all to see

Confidence, charisma, and charm

Screaming "Look at me, I'm great. I can do no harm!"

Followers want to believe that such a person exists

Narcissists self-promotion persists

Until followers are convinced the leader is up to the task

Never stopping to ask…

 

Why do you, narcissist, want so badly to be in a position of leadership

Leading, after all, is not about you, it's about the relationship

That the leaders builds with everyone whose lives they touch

And leaders must actually care…indeed they must care very much

When you fail, narcissist, or get it wrong

Will you change your song

Be willing to accept critical feedback

That hurts like the crack

Of a paddle directly to your ego

Can you show

Humility…and let followers see

They matter, and that you understand leader are required

To work on behalf of followers far beyond when the leader is tired

In seeking to win our affection

Narcissists do not paint an accurate reflection

Of their true motivation….

Which is holding power and self-gratification

At first, narcissist will burst

With conceit and bluster

But when it comes times to lead, they cannot muster

The skills and competency

To successfully

Achieve their vision and mission

And follower are left wishin

They had not believed the hype

By then its too late to swipe

Away the regrets

That only gets

us upset

 

 

Narcissist, your entitlement, your need for aggression, and to dominate

All combine to make a destructive leadership trait

Yet, for all their vanity

Narcissists actually

Believe what they say

Even though they

May not have the skills and knowledge to get the job done

And often count the battles they have won

Expect us to follow blindly

Narcissists make us see

The possibility

Of a future beyond what most people can imagine

Embolden us to think we can

Do amazing things far greater than our blinders allow

That somehow

Monumental achievements

Are attainable for everyone from rich to low rents

 

For all their bravado and self-aggrandizement

Narcissists are insecure, and lament

Themselves… for all they cannot be

 

When faced with a narcissistic leader, here's what to do

Focus not on them, as followers its up to you

Not to belittle, berate

Not tolerate hate

Rather to create and to rejuvenate

The world and all its inhabitants

From mansions to sheets formed into tents

Rally around the common good, our mutual cause for humanity

Be above the insanity

Conscientiously

Strive for what is right

Be the shinning light

That acts with kindness, a focus on collaboration

Give respect and credit without hesitation

Although it may feel like a violation

Of all that you stand for

Be more

Be humble

And then, if you stumble

You'll recognize failures as tools to learn

And earn

The respect of those who matter most

And you'll do that without having to boast

 

 

That's BKD's rap

We hope that we tap

Into something that will inspire

And lift you higher

So that you go do something amazing today

And every day.

 

Remember, we invite you to enroll in our Leaders Maximized certifications taking place in Boston on Jan 23, Seattle on Jan. 30th, and Fort Lauderdale on Feb. 6, 2018. call 561.708.0861 or email us at info@bkdpartners.com. Check us out on the web at www.bkdleaders.com and www.bkdpartners.com