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Understanding the Dark Triad
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Understanding the Dark Triad

Managing “Dark” Personality Traits

MindTools
MindTools, 2023
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Spotting team members who lack empathy and engage in toxic behaviors can be tricky. They can appear to be charismatic, charming and achievement-oriented. But individuals with “Dark Triad” traits – that is Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy – can erode team morale, make poor decisions and create unsafe work environments. While only a qualified psychologist can determine whether someone possesses a certain personality type, the Mind Tools content team has put together a guide to help managers identify difficult employees and intervene to insulate their team’s morale.

Summary

Individuals who exhibit “Dark Triad” traits can destroy teams without proper management. 

Neutralizing the toxicity of workers who are volatile, domineering or arrogant is often possible with careful management, allowing you to preserve team harmony. But people who possess “Dark Triad” personality traits – that is, Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy – are notoriously difficult to manage. Dark Triad characteristics exist on a spectrum, and all individuals display subtle flashes of these personalities from time to time. However, if you don’t carefully manage employees who lie on the extreme end of the spectrum, their actions can poison your team.  

These behaviors can be difficult to identify. People with Dark Triad personalities might initially seem to be charming high achievers. To spot people with the following Dark Triad personality traits, look for these characteristics and behaviors:

  1. Machiavellianism – In his book The Prince, Niccolò Machiavelli, a 16th-century Italian diplomat and politician, justifies devious tactics involving...

About the Author

Mind Tools is a content provider that creates resources for career development and self-improvement.

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