Let’s delve into the five types of abnormal mental developments often observed in managers: Narcissism, dependent personalities, egocentrism, depression, and compulsiveness.
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Narcissistic Managers
Narcissistic managers often strive to be unique, crave admiration, and hold a deep sense of entitlement. This personality trait can be advantageous as it equips individuals with a positive self-image and competitive edge necessary in a corporate environment. However, an excessive amount of narcissism can be detrimental. Narcissistic managers often lack empathy, are prone to exploit others and might react vengefully when criticized.
The real-world implications of narcissistic leadership can be observed in corporate scandals, where top executives have allowed their personal ambition and entitlement to overrule ethical considerations. Companies must establish checks and balances to curb the negative impacts of this trait, such as encouraging emotional intelligence training, promoting empathy, and fostering a culture of constructive feedback.
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Dependent Managers
Dependent or relationship-oriented managers prioritize maintaining close connections with their team. They value group harmony, compliance, and tend to go out of their way to assist others. Although this can foster a collaborative atmosphere, it leaves them susceptible to exploitation and can obstruct decision-making.
Organizations should offer leadership training to these managers to balance their cooperative nature with assertiveness. Training programs focusing on negotiation skills, conflict resolution, and decision-making can prove beneficial.
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Egocentric Managers
Egocentric managers often exhibit instability and a lack of grounding, resulting in moody, dramatic, and erratic behavior. Despite their shortcomings, they can display charisma and enthusiasm in their roles. They should be reminded that actions speak louder than words and that consistency is key to effective leadership.
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Depressive Managers
Depressive managers prioritize group harmony over goal attainment. Their desire to be liked can interfere with making the right decisions, thus affecting the performance of the team and the organization. Organizations should consider providing mental health support for such managers, such as counselling and stress management programs, to ensure their well-being and enhance their decision-making capacity.
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Compulsive Managers
Compulsive managers are characterized by an obsession with structure, thoroughness, and perfectionism. While these traits can lead to high-quality work, the inflexibility and rigidity of compulsive managers can hamper adaptability and creativity in the team. It’s crucial for these managers to learn to balance their meticulousness with flexibility.
Understanding the interplay between a manager’s mental disposition and their working environment is crucial for organizations. Addressing these abnormal mental developments involves implementing structured and unstructured interviews, using conflict strategically, investing in employee development, and creating strategies for conflict resolution.
Workplace mental health has gained significant traction in human resources literature and training programs. MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) offer a plethora of courses in interpersonal skills, conflict negotiation, and management psychology, providing managers with the tools to handle their unique challenges.
Furthermore, companies should focus on analyzing worker competencies continuously, addressing skill deficiencies that form as the organization advances. They can do this by investing in new training platforms and AI education to reduce the skills gap in the workforce. Countries like Canada and the USA are already witnessing a significant information technology skills gap. Addressing these deficiencies will improve the performance of managers and, by extension, organizations.
In conclusion, abnormal mental developments in managers are complex issues that can have profound implications for individuals and organizations. By understanding these developments, companies can implement effective strategies and training programs to help their managers navigate their unique challenges and foster healthier, more productive workplaces.
Related books and resources:
“Working with Emotional Intelligence” by Daniel Goleman – This book dives into how emotional intelligence impacts performance, leadership, and the professional environment, particularly relevant for understanding and improving the interpersonal dynamics and self-awareness of managers.
“Trapped in the Mirror: Adult Children of Narcissists in their Struggle for Self” by Elan Golomb – Although focused on the personal impacts of narcissism, this book provides insights into the narcissistic behavior patterns that can be extrapolated to workplace interactions, particularly those involving narcissistic managers.
“Leadership on the Line: Staying Alive Through the Dangers of Leading” by Ronald A. Heifetz and Marty Linsky – This work addresses the personal and professional challenges faced by leaders, which can contribute to stress and abnormal mental developments, and offers strategies for dealing with these pressures effectively.
“Change Your Brain, Change Your Life: The Breakthrough Program for Conquering Anxiety, Depression, Obsessiveness, Anger, and Impulsiveness” by Daniel G. Amen – This book explores how different parts of the brain affect behaviour and mood, offering insights that are pertinent to understanding and managing depressive and compulsive traits in managers.
“The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn’t” by Robert I. Sutton – While direct, this book discusses the impact of toxic workplace behaviors (which can stem from various abnormal mental developments) and provides advice on creating a more positive work environment.
“Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead” by Brené Brown – Brown’s insights into vulnerability and leadership can help managers with dependent and depressive tendencies to find balance and improve their decision-making and leadership skills.
“The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less” by Barry Schwartz – This book sheds light on how the abundance of choice can lead to anxiety and compulsion, relevant for understanding the behaviors of compulsive managers and how to mitigate these tendencies.
“Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most” by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, and Sheila Heen – This guide is essential for managers of all types, but particularly those struggling with egocentrism or dependency, as it provides strategies for effective communication and conflict resolution.
“Quiet Leadership: Six Steps to Transforming Performance at Work” by David Rock – Rock’s approach to leadership focuses on improving the performance of team members through subtle shifts in how leaders think and how they engage with their teams, relevant for managers dealing with their own mental challenges or those of their teams.
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