Godspeed. Narcissist Boss

Sigmund Freud, who came up with psychoanalysis, said that narcissism is "striving for pleasure from vanity or egoistic appraisal of one's own traits." This is just a fancy way of saying "vanity." Bosses come in many shapes and sizes. Just because you're in the field of rehabilitation does not mean you'll never have to deal with a boss with narcissistic traits. Narcissists have an exaggerated sense of their own greatness and are emotionally insensitive. If your boss is pathologically narcissistic, they may be insensitive and egocentric at best and exploitative and abusive at worst. On the other hand, pathological narcissists are more likely to always act in one or more of the following ways: Other bosses may only act this way sometimes, especially when they are stressed.

They don't give a damn about what's going on with you. A narcissistic boss shows little to no regard for the well-being of their staff. A narcissistic boss may exploit you financially or otherwise violate your rights. You may, for instance, be required to run errands for the company in your own vehicle without being compensated for doing so. They lack the empathy to see the inherent dignity of every person.

You are made to feel like an essential component of your boss's operation. For a narcissistic boss, your value extends beyond your job description, and you may find yourself being used in ways that aren't directly related to your work. Sometimes she has to run errands for herself, do things she doesn't want to, assist with her own pet projects, or fulfill other responsibilities without being recognized or reimbursed.

The boss deserves the praise, not you. Some narcissistic bosses take too much credit for their employees' ideas and work.

Your boss cares about making a good impression, so doing well is in everyone's best interest. They have an exaggerated sense of self-importance and constantly work to maintain that perception. A narcissist who treats his or her job like a cult temple will have a gold nameplate on the desk, multiple trophies on the shelves, and walls full of credentials, degrees, recognitions, status images, and pictures of "heroic" or "adventurous" deeds. Taking pride in one's accomplishments is not wrong, but the pathological narcissist often goes too far in this direction. The person is making a concerted effort to impress you.

The chief enjoys assuming a stern demeanor. Many narcissistic bosses will dominate the conversation and make it about them whenever they are in charge, whether it's a meeting, presentation, phone call, or email thread. They often use these meetings to brag about what they've done and talk about how important their ideas and plans are. Their ultimate goal is to raise their social standing and institutional power.

Your boss acts as though they are entitled to anything they want. Some narcissists put themselves above the law because they believe they are "special." They often take advantage of people and the system, whether major or minor. Workplace fraud can take many forms, from unethical advertising to major crimes, shady accounting practices, and inflated productivity claims. Unfortunately, many narcissists believe they shouldn't have to follow the rules and norms that the rest of society does.

You have a hard time giving people compliments. They act like narcissists who would lose their celebrity status if they got any praise.

They only provide praise in the context of their brilliant leadership, and even then, it is only to further their own lofty goals. Perhaps they will only praise you when they want something from you. All the effort in the world won't change the fact that if you don't matter to them, they'll continue to treat you like a throwaway item no matter how hard you try.

That boss of yours is a real snake. Some narcissistic bosses enjoy making you feel horrible about yourself and their firm to obtain what they want, bolster their own egos, and keep you off balance and unsettled. They are sensitive to slights and ignore them. Criticism and mockery are typical behaviors of narcissists. They want to boost their own self-esteem at your expense.

Clearly, your boss takes criticism personally and is eager to point fingers. There is no way to convince them otherwise. They are convinced that they are always correct and that it is your fault if they are proven wrong.