Mission vs. Ego: The Dangers of Narcissistic Leadership

<p>This week, Brené and Adam are live at SXSW! They explore why so many people are vulnerable to narcissistic leaders. The conversation covers the conditions that breed narcissistic leadership, the roles of shame and fear, and how to survive a narcissistic boss, and what it means to lead with mission over ego.</p>
<p>You can find The Curiosity Shop on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheCuriosityShop?sub_confirmation=1">YouTube</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thecuriosityshop">Instagram</a> (@thecuriosityshop).</p>
<p><strong>Chapters: </strong></p>
<p>0:00 - Introduction </p>
<p>3:14 - Why People Are Vulnerable to Narcissistic Leaders</p>
<p>12:21 - Shame-Based Fear</p>
<p>18:04 - Do We Think About Emotions Wrong?</p>
<p>19:21 - Undue Credit and the Narcissistic Leader</p>
<p>26:00 - Mission Over Ego</p>
<p>29:52 - How to Manage a Narcissistic Boss</p>
<p>39:18 - Anxiety as a Path to Narcissism </p>
<p>47:45 - Judging Impairs Judgement</p>
<p>1:02:20 - Closing</p>
<p><strong>Show Notes: </strong></p>
<p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/opinion/why-we-fall-for-narcissistic-leaders-starting-in-grade-school.html">Adam Grant, <em>Why We Fall for Narcissistic Leaders, Starting in Grade School, </em>NYT 2025.</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326278928_When_'Me'_Trumps_'We'_Narcissistic_Leaders_and_the_Cultures_They_Create">O'Reilly et al. 2001 <em>When 'Me' Trumps 'We': Narcissistic Leaders and the Cultures They Create, </em>2021.</a></p>
<p><a href="https://brenebrown.com/resources/dare-to-lead-glossary-key-language-skills-tools-and-practices/">Brené Brown, "Shame shields"<em> </em>in <em>The Dare to Lead Glossary: Key Language skills, tools, and practices. </em>(pg. 15-16)</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/10773179_Culture_Moderates_the_Self-Regulation_of_Shame_and_Its_Effects_on_Performance_The_Case_of_Salespersons_in_the_Netherlands_and_the_Philippines">Bagozzi et al. 2003 (A study on cross-cultural differences in reaction to shame)</a></p>
<p><a href="https://brenebrown.com/podcast/the-power-of-regret/">Brené Brown, <em>Dan Pink on The Power of Regret, Dare to Lead,</em> 2022</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSW2FDXuFe4"><em>We're The Millers </em>(Trailer) 2013, <em>Awkward Roadtrip Moments: No Ragrets</em></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruJWd_m-LgY">George Saunders, "<em>Failures of Kindness</em>", Convocation Speech, 2013</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330903700_Examining_the_I_in_Team_A_Longitudinal_Investigation_of_the_Influence_of_Team_Narcissism_Composition_on_Team_Outcomes_in_the_NBA">Emily Grijalva et al. 2020 (A study of the impact of narcissim on NBA team performance)</a></p>
<p><a href="https://youtu.be/6wUfFM9htjo?si=CXDQHMIkeYYXvceG&amp;t=685"><em>How Brené Brown and Lumen CEO Kate Johnson Sparked This Telecom Comeback, </em>WSJ Leadership Institute, 2025 (11:25)</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/05/opinion/sunday/unless-youre-oprah-be-yourself-is-terrible-advice.html#:~:text=But%20for%20most%20people%2C%20%E2%80%9Cbe,that%20are%20better%20left%20unspoken.">Adam Grant<em>, Unless You're Oprah, ‘Be Yourself’ Is Terrible Advice - </em>Adam Grant 2016 NYT</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/my-response-adam-grants-new-york-times-oped-unless-youre-bren%C3%A9-brown/"><em>My response to Adam Grant’s New York Times Op/ED: Unless You're Oprah, ‘Be Yourself’ Is Terrible Advice - </em>Brené Brown LinkedIn 2016</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/257534230_The_Double-Edged_Sword_of_Grandiose_Narcissism_Implications_for_Successful_and_Unsuccessful_Leadership_Among_US_Presidents">Watts et al, 2014 (A study of grandiose narcissism and vulnerable narcissism in U.S. Presidents)</a></p><p> </p><p>Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a></p>