The most recent generation has been labeled several times as a selfish one, and this can easily extend to those who have to lead major corporations and hold high-paying positions while they do so. However, channeled in the right way, this kind of attitude isn't exactly this kiss of death when it comes to business practice.
The Washington Post recently spoke to professor Peter Harms, who has penned research on the way that narcissism can be put to good use. Seeing as there are apparently (and not entirely surprisingly) a good amount of so-called "narcissists" that wind up in high-ranking levels of business to begin with, Harms asserts that this can actually lead to an original and dynamic CEO tenure, provided the person in question is serious about their business.
"A narcissist who's not very smart or hard-working is a disaster," he said. "But a narcissist who's really smart and really hard working could end up being someone brilliant like Steve Jobs."
On the other hand, in an editorial for Fierce Healthcare, Ilene McDonald notes that this doesn't always lead to good performance, and probably shouldn't be counted on as a reliable trait. After all, no matter what benefits you get as a result, someone who puts themselves above the company is obviously bad news.
But things are rarely so black and white, and as Harms notes, narcissism might not be that bad if it's tempered by other factors. Turn to management consultants to handle the CEO talent you are looking to retain for your company.
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