⚔️ Beware of corporate psychopaths and their deceiving traits.
Their destructive personalities create toxicity in the workplace.
In his take on Corporate Psychopathy, CEO of Pahamify, Syarif Rousyan, says it best; “Compared to criminal psychopaths, corporate psychopaths are not bad enough to go to jail, but bad enough to make us suffer.”
By using their psychopathic traits to their advantage, these office destroyers disregard their stakeholders in order to get what they want. In some moderate cases, their traits could be useful. But in the case of corporate psychopaths, they likely hurt the business
Stay cautious of the side effects
By definition, psychopaths can be described as manipulative, bullying, lying and egocentric people without a conscious. According to research, there is a 5% to 15% chance that someone will be working with a corporate psychopath.
More specifically, a team of researchers from Middlesex University confirmed the modus operandi and negative results of corporate psychopaths’ toxic behavior. Here’s what a work environment would look like with them actively operating in it:
Destroyed employee morale and engagement
Whether at a corporate level or a departmental level, they constantly undermine other employees’ performance, causing these employees to obliterate their commitment to the company.
Massive turnover of high-value employees
Due to working in unbearable conditions caused by the corporate psychopaths, employees seek to escape the company. In many cases, they do so even without having another job secured to go to.
Fooled bosses
Through their lies and manipulation, corporate psychopaths often achieve short-term results, masquerading themselves as successful and competent in the eyes of the company’s leaders and management.
Read more about the real cases of corporate psychopaths from the research in the full article here.
Stay alert for the culprits
In her vlog posted to YouTube, Jennifer Brick, a career strategist with a criminology background, lays out the signs of a corporate psychopath based on the Harris Psychopathy List.
Brick shared the 7 characteristics of a psychopath at work, which include:
They are overwhelmingly charismatic when they want to be.
Because they are in control of their charm, not everyone will see their dark side. Their charismatic magnetism helps them get results, sales, investors, key hires, and the like.
They think they’re really important.
In psychology, the term is called “Delusions of Grandeur”. They have a disproportionately high self perception. As confidence is contagious, their exaggerated sense of self-worth causes other people to see them the same way.
They are masters of manipulation.
Their disregard for others, a lack of relationship with the truth, and natural skill of deception make them dangerous. The intention, means, and who the outcome really benefits, is what differentiates manipulation with persuasion.
They have a deficiency of human feelings.
Despite their destructive tactics, they don’t experience guilt. They instead have what is called the “Shallow Effect”, meaning that they don’t experience the same depth and breadth of emotions as other people.
They have poor behavior controls.
At work, this can look like going from idea to action instantaneously without any consideration for implications or consequences. They also tend to hastily react, especially when they feel irritated.
Disclaimer: This list is not a diagnostic tool, and a psychopath can only be diagnosed by a professional.
See if you’re working with a corporate psychopath and watch the full 10-min video here.
Stay strong and keep your guard up
If you or someone you know is a victim of corporate psychopaths, the first thing you might think of to resolve the pressing issue might be to leave. But before taking the permanent action, you can try to implement the following tips:
Set boundaries
Their lack of impulse control might drive them to consistently contact their colleagues outside of working hours, without empathy for others. Confront them while still being polite and firm.
Ex: “I’m sorry. I know you like to communicate after 10pm, but I can’t take phone calls after 8:30. I understand if that’s not okay, and if so, we can talk about my transition.”
Save the tears
If the corporate psychopath you work with tries to emotionally manipulate you, you have to try to not respond with tears or anger. A lot of the pleasure they get is in the immediacy of response.
Ex: When you really can’t take it and you have to cry, save it for your car or a closed
office/room.
Make yourself a paper trail
Document your interactions with the culprit in real time; write everything out with dates and times. If you ever decide to report the misconduct, these records will be of the utmost importance.
Ex: Try to use email and text over verbal communication. It will not only serve as record, but also give you a leg up in the conversation.
Build out your network
Make sure that you have a strong network in your organization so you have allies sideways and up. This also gives you people to come to your defense so the horrible corporate psychopath doesn’t have all the power.
Ex: When they try to destroy you with their psychopathic behaviors, you’re able to blow the whistle without your boss doubting you.
Learn more about the ways you can do to face a corporate psychopath in the full piece here.
We hope you never have to deal with a Corporate Psychopath ever in your life.
But, if that’s not the case and it’s something you’re currently dealing with right now, we hope to have shared some practical tips to save you from the awful situation.
See you again next week!