Whereas on paper, “bold,” “self-reliant,” and “result-oriented” staff sound just like the hallmarks of a high-performer.
In follow? These traits could also be a magnet for narcissists—and analysis revealed within the journal Administration Science suggests avoiding placing them in job adverts for that precise cause.
Behavioural researchers analysed real-life job postings and separated the company clichés that incessantly popped up into two classes: These which might be extra prone to entice a rule-bending candidate or a “rule follower”.
Phrases like grounded, collaborative and process-oriented, went within the “rule-follower” class. In the meantime, phrases like “thinks outdoors the field” had been filed beneath “rule-bender”. They then put out faux job adverts with these phrases and assessed how narcissistic its applicaticant had been.
The outcomes? The job adverts suffering from the “rule-bending” phrase enticed, as a researcher places it, candidates with “a grand view of self”.
The phrases and phrases that would entice “rule-bending” narcissists, in keeping with the analysis
- Formidable and self-reliant
- Thinks outdoors the field
- Outcomes-oriented, establishes and strives for targets
- Develops artistic and progressive options to issues
- Versatile and strategic mindset
- Communicates in a tactical and persuasive method
These are the “rule-follower” phrases to make use of as an alternative
- Grounded and collaborative
- Thinks methodically
- Course of-oriented, establishes and strengthens procedures
- Depends on time-tested options to issues
- Concrete and sensible mindset
- Communicates in a simple and correct method
In an article in The Dialog about his analysis, Jonathan Homosexual, the research’s coauthor and an assistant professor on the College of Mississippi wrote that “firms write job postings rigorously in hopes of attracting the best candidate. Nevertheless, they might unknowingly entice and choose narcissistic candidates whose targets and ethics may not align with an organization’s values or long-term success.”
Homosexual added that recruiters had been most certainly to make use of rule-bender phrases when hiring for “extremely progressive, high-growth firms”—however that it’s unclear whether or not they’re deliberately attempting to draw narcissists, in any case, they will at occasions be useful for enterprise.
“Whereas narcissistic traits can result in detrimental outcomes, we aren’t saying that firms ought to keep away from attracting narcissistic candidates altogether,” he defined. “A agency can profit from a salesman who’s persuasive, who ‘thinks outdoors the field’ and is results-oriented.”
Homosexual identified that on the one hand, narcissistic workers could be extra progressive and prepared to take dangers to attain success, however they’re additionally “extra prone to behave unethically, doubtlessly resulting in authorized penalties.”
The takeaway for employers is easy: Utilizing phrases like “bold” and “self-reliant” in job postings isn’t inherently mistaken—but it surely’s a crimson flag for attracting candidates extra invested in themselves than the staff.
In high-pressure workplaces already coping with micromanagement, backstabbing, and the friction of return-to-office mandates, a narcissist can amplify pressure, erode belief, and make collaboration an uphill battle.
For firms which might be actively involved about hiring narcissists, Homosexual really useful clearly “speaking their moral values” in job adverts, or just avoiding rule-bender language totally.
