Research Paper: Narcissistic Leadership Assignment

Narcissistic Leadership Research Paper Student's Name Institution Course # and Number Professor's Name Submission Date Abstract Since antiquity, leaders have employed a variety of leadership styles that impact organizational success. Leadership style plays a significant role in shaping employees' morale, thus increasing employee motivation and performance. In law enforcement, the type of leadership style used significantly impacts the results yielded in the organization. This research will analyze the intricate qualities of a narcissistic leadership style. Moreover, it will analyze the characteristics of a covenant leader in the context of a police department. This research will also analyze the characteristics of covenant leaders. Furthermore, it will analyze the Christian worldview of a covenant leader in a police department. It will provide a comparative analysis of narcissistic and covenant leaders. Finally, it will give the potential success and pitfalls of implementing a covenant leadership style in a police department. Table of Contents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u Abstract PAGEREF _Toc163318149 \h 2Introduction PAGEREF _Toc163318150 \h 3Comparison between a Narcissistic Leader and a Covenant Leader PAGEREF _Toc163318151 \h 4Organizational Impact of a Covenant Leader PAGEREF _Toc163318152 \h 6Change Plan based on Covenant Leadership Principles PAGEREF _Toc163318153 \h 8References PAGEREF _Toc163318154 \h 12 Introduction Leadership styles can significantly impact the performance of an organization. This research analyzed the characteristics of a narcissistic and a covenant leader in a police department. Narcissistic leaders are typically motivated by their subordinates' need for positions of influence as well as admiration tendencies. They stifle their subordinates' growth, rarely allowing them to become innovative. Covenant leaders are driven by Christian worldview principles to lead by example. This paper compared the organizational implications of narcissistic and covenant leaders. It established that a covenant leader is mission-oriented, while a narcissistic leader is driven by the desire to climb the social ladder. Thus, for a police organization to succeed, the leader needs to be in tune with the needs of their subordinates. Changes driven by Christian principles will be effective in a police organization. Comparison Between a Narcissistic Leader and a Covenant Leader Narcissism is an exaggerated perspective of oneself, which is depicted through acts of grandiosity. Thus, people with this personality trait tend to exude a sense of self-importance, believing they are entitled to special treatment. A narcissistic leadership style is defined as leaders driven majorly by the need for power and admiration from the people they serve (Asad et al., 2020). Thus, a narcissistic leader believes in self-sufficiency rather than involving others in the decision-making (Shamsudin et al., 2023). Additionally, narcissist leaders are majorly driven by their selfish needs rather than the growth of the employees and the organization. They are self-absorbed rather than being team players (Asad et al., 2020). Consequently, narcissistic leaders tend to be self-centered individuals; hence, they prioritize their needs over the growth of their team members. Narcissists and covenant leaders incorporate distinct leadership styles when governing their subordinates. Thus, it is essential to conduct a comparative analysis to understand the differences in leadership styles. Firstly, while a narcissistic leader is self-centered, a covenant leader is mission-driven (O'Reilly & Chatman, 2020). A narcissistic leader cares only about their gain but not the missions and goals that drive an organization. Thus, the narcissistic leader will seek external validation, while a covenant leader is driven by the organization's goals and missions (Jankowski et al., 2022). Thus, a covenant leader will improve the organization, while a narcissistic leader will work towards gaining notoriety and climbing the social ladder. The covenant leader will ensure that the company's prosperity influences their decision-making. In conclusion, narcissistic leaders are self-centered, while covenant leaders are mission-driven. Narcissistic leaders lack empathy, while covenant leaders exhibit empathy towards their subordinates. Thus, a narcissistic leader will tend to shun other people's opinions, while a covenant leader will incorporate the suggestions that they are given (Ong et al., 2020). A covenant leader finds it easy to listen and provide solutions to the grievances of their subordinates (Steffens & Haslam, 2022). However, a narcissistic leader will take little or no action when their subordinates provide their grievances (Gleig, 2020). Moreover, they will ignore or pay little attention since they are self-absorbed. Thus, this step can result in a high turnover rate since the environment becomes hostile and antagonistic. Covenant leaders are driven to be impactful leaders and, hence, are empathetic, while narcissistic leaders lack empathy. Finally, both narcissistic and covenant leadership styles have great vision. Both leadership styles possess a strong sense of vision so that they can lead an organization to the next level. An organization might benefit significantly from both leaders. Narcissistic leaders have great vision since they see the bigger picture of things. Thus, an organization can benefit from this leadership style by having a vision-oriented leader (Hartog et al., 2020). Similarly, a covenant leader is driven by the organization's vision in their decision-making. Narcissists will not care about the intricate details of achieving an organizational objective. Instead, they will be focused on the big picture (Erhan et al., 2022). Covenant leaders are often driven by the need to leave a legacy (Subramanian & Palo, 2022). Hence, an organization might benefit from both leadership styles in different degrees. In conclusion, both leadership styles have a great sense of vision; hence, through their unique leadership styles, an organization can succeed. Both covenant and narcissistic leaders are vision-oriented because of the different visions they have; however, even people in mental asylums have visions. Thus, the beneficial factor of these leaders in an organization is that they are naturally talented in acquiring followers (Bernerth, 2022). In an organization, a leader needs to have followers who will listen to them. Narcissists naturally attract followers because they can be persuasive (Gleig, 2020). This factor benefits an organization since it can translate to an increase in employees who want to work (Chand et al., 2020). Covenant leaders have great and compelling oratory skills and can be instrumental in marketing the company. They use their oratory skills to compel others since they are quite charismatic. Organizational Impact of a Covenant Leader Covena...