Taming the Narcissistic Leader: How Workplace Culture Shapes Trust

Narcissistic leaders often prioritize their own interests over their followers and organizations, but their behavior can be shaped by workplace culture. This study examines how different workplace environments—performance-focused versus mastery-focused climates—affect the relationship between leader narcissism and employee trust. In performance-driven workplaces, where competition is encouraged, narcissistic leaders are more likely to act selfishly, reducing trust from employees. However, in mastery-focused environments that emphasize collaboration and learning, narcissistic leaders are less likely to engage in self-serving behavior, preserving trust. The research, based on a survey of 546 leaders and 1,718 followers, highlights how workplace culture can either amplify or suppress the negative effects of narcissistic personalities of leaders. Organizations can minimize trust issues by fostering cooperative and ethical environments, ensuring that leadership traits, even negative ones, do not harm employee morale and performance. This study provides valuable insights for businesses aiming to create healthier workplace cultures.

You can read this article, written by Susanne Braun, Ed Sleebos, Leah Zou and Barbara Wisse here: Braun, S., Sleebos, E., Zou, L. L., & Wisse, B. M. (2025). Sparking or smothering darkness: Motivational climates influence the leader grandiose narcissism–follower trust relation via leader self‐serving behaviour. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 98(1), e12555. https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/joop.12555