How narcissism ruins teamwork – and why it matters in the workplace

A study using escape rooms revealed how narcissism negatively impacts teamwork. Researchers found that the "narcissistic rivalry" aspect, characterized by defensiveness and combativeness, significantly harmed team performance. Teams with individuals high in rivalry made less progress, solved fewer puzzles, and experienced less unity. This is because under pressure, rivalrous individuals tend to withdraw, dismiss others, or withhold information, undermining the group's cohesion. Conversely, "narcissistic admiration," which appears charming and confident, initially boosted morale. However, over time, teammates perceived these individuals as more arrogant and less empathetic, finding their charisma waned when genuine collaboration was required. This mirrors workplace scenarios where confident self-promoters may impress initially but frustrate colleagues by the project's end. The research highlights that modern workplac... download the app to read more