Manipulative, distrustful, self-serving: how to deal with a Machiavellian boss
Retrieved on:
星期四, 七月 20, 2023
Heart, Psychopathy, Fox, Wolf, Prevalence, House of Medici, Workplace, Business, Conciliation, Reward, Woman, Kawasaki H2 Mach IV, Personality disorder, Attention, Machiavellianism (psychology), The Prince, Prophets of Deceit, Bullying, Book, Narcissism, Abuse, Population, Deception, Time, Art, Personality, Minister of Employment (New Zealand), Empathy, Niccolò Machiavelli, Mental health, The Art of War, Conscience, Management, Nursing, Insurance, Hydraulic machinery, Machiavellianism
You won’t get paid for the extra hours but you’ve been assured there will be kudos from senior management.
Key Points:
- You won’t get paid for the extra hours but you’ve been assured there will be kudos from senior management.
- A Machiavellian personality is self-serving, opportunistic and ambitious – traits that can help them attain positions of power and status.
- Working for a Machiavellian boss is likely to be infuriating, stressful and bad for your mental health.
- By understanding what drives this personality, and how it differs from the other “dark personality traits”, you can limit the fallout.
Origins of Machiavellianism
- Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) was a diplomat in Florence during a period of power struggle involving the powerful Medici family.
- When the Medicis returned to rule the city in 1512 after almost two decades in exile, he was briefly imprisoned and then banished.
- “The lion cannot protect himself from traps,” it says, “and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves.
Joining the ‘Dark Triad’
- However, while the three traits are lumped together due to their antisocial qualities, there are important differences.
- Narcissism is a set of traits as well as a personality disorder, characterised by egoism, self-absorption and the need to feel superior to others.
- Psychopathy is also a diagnosable personality disorder, defined by lack of empathy or conscience.
- The boss who assures you they have your best interests at heart might just be telling you what you want to believe.
How to deal with a Machiavellian boss
- A Machiavellian boss may seek to manipulate
with flattery or bullying, promising reward or threatening punishment. - So how to deal with a Machiavellian boss?
- The first lesson is to be clear about what drives a Machiavellian personality.
- You can’t trust a Machiavellian, and need to deal with them cautiously.
- But distrusting your boss and operating with a “strike before the other does” mindset will, if you’re a relatively normal person, be emotionally draining.