“You don’t have to be a total narcissist to be a successful executive – but a solid dash of ego can help,” Rachel Feintzeig, a management reporter for the Wall Street Journal, writes in WSJ’s At Work blog. And she’s right. Citing sources from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and Hogan Assessments, she delves into the controversial topic of narcissism in the workplace. Hogan’s managing partner Rodney Warrenfeltz discusses the implications of Bold scores in the 70-90 range and above on the Hogan Development Survey. Despite its stigma, narcissism and “being able to influence people is a crucial part of effective leadership” writes Feintzeig.

Read the whole article here.

Warning: self-disclosure ahead.

I should start by making you aware of a couple of things: like all other people, I have a few derailers. Ok, I have a lot of them. Perhaps the most plaguing is a very close friend of mine, known as Excitable. People are often surprised by this, as in professional and social settings I am pretty adept at keeping it under wraps. At home, however, I am a hybrid of a powder keg and a wrecking ball. My low-moderate Adjustment score means that the fuse to my Excitable moments is short to non-existent, and also leaves me with massive post-explosion guilt. Furthermore, I am off the charts on Inquisitive and Learning Approach, so I am constantly trying to understand the reasons that drive my behaviors. So I explode, feel terrible about it, introspect and try to understand why, ultimately become frustrated about the why, and explode again…wash, rinse, repeat. It truly is a vicious cycle.

After 33 years of running through the cycle above, I have come to some conclusions as to why I have to wear a scarlet “E” around my neck: it is only natural and is all about energy and balance. A bomb explodes because its internal components rapidly and efficiently convert potential energy into kinetic energy in the form of heat. As they heat, they expand, and as they expand internal pressure builds. The pressure’s only relief comes via rapid dispersion into the surrounding stable atmosphere, which we see as an explosion. The aforementioned happens very quickly and, generally speaking, once the reaction has started it cannot be stopped. The same goes for me (and I assume for other Excitables as well). This is why telling an excitable individual to count to ten is a terrible idea – there is no stopping the reaction and stalling it only builds more pressure and leads to a more violent explosion. Best course of action: Take cover and let it pass over.

Clearly, I am Excitable because I am made up of atoms that convert and release energy more efficiently than those that comprise my calmer counterparts. It is obviously a positive attribute because I don’t harbor stress; it exits me with the force of a 10 megaton bomb, but once it is gone, it is gone. As quickly as it built and blew up, the reaction is over and all is peaceful.

So to my fellow Excitables: Unite! Consider this not your cross to bear, but your red badge of courage. Embrace your gifted ability to expunge the tensions that cause hair loss and heart conditions.  Encourage stress bearers to take charge of their lives and health by throwing things and speaking in strings of expletives yet unknown. And by all means, always keep in mind that those to whom you have to apologize are simply envious of the incredible efficiency of your molecular makeup.

Mischievous? Me?!? No. Never.

For more on Hogan Development Survey scales, visit www.howdoyouderail.com.

In the workplace, one rotten apple can spoil the whole bunch, especially when the bad apple is in a leadership position. Passive-aggressive leaders create toxic work cultures that reward compliance and punish dissent or criticism, even if it is constructive.

In their 2005 Harvard Business Review article, The Passive-Aggressive Organization, authors Gary Neilson, Bruce Pasternack, and Karen Van Nuys describe a healthy organizational culture as one in which “managers have access to good, timely information, the authority to make informed decisions, and the incentives to make them on behalf of the organization, which promptly and capably carries them out.”

Unfortunately, in a Booz Allen Hamilton survey of more than 30,000 people around the globe, only one in five respondents described their organizations that way. The largest number of respondents described their workplace as passive-aggressive.

Do you get belligerent when things go wrong? Do you find yourself drunk with arrogance? The parallels between the dangers of over intoxication and leadership derailment are uncanny. Recently I shared a few crafted libations with partners from across our global network, and we discussed the dearth of available cocktails that pointedly appeal to an individual’s dark side. So naturally, we came up with the following menu of customized personality enhancers. It offers a number of options for entertaining that special boss or client, or for when you’re just looking to imbibe something that will reveal to your friends and colleagues who you really are.

The Excitable
This hot headed variant of the “Prairie Fire” is one part Tennessee whiskey, one part Tequila, and served in a generous shot glass with a habanero sauce floater. Once a few of these spicy voice amplifiers burn passed past your esophagus, you’ll notice a sudden increase in passionate pontification as well as chest hair. Professional swimmers and fans of the unbuttoned collar beware.

The Skeptical
Looking for a drink that arouses suspicion? Nothing says ‘whaddya think you’re lookin at’ better than this dubious brew. It’s the perfect prop for sitting at the end of a dark bar in sunglasses while you ponder the phrase ‘how are you doing tonight’ and if it was meant as an insult. The recipe is proprietary…just to get you started on the right foot.

The Cautious
Should you or shouldn’t you? Why not? After all it’s only a virgin Margarita in a plastic cup filled halfway. And if you’re not sure you’ll like it, start slow. Just a tip of the glass is enough to get a little loosened up.

The Reserved
Aged scotch, neat. Need we say more?

The Leisurely
We’ll get back to you on this one soon.

The Bold
If you’re out to show off your worth, this ‘cocky-tail’ is the one for you. We take the classic self-promoting energy drink and vodka mix and add an obnoxiously awesome protein powder. Guaranteed to inspire clever pick up lines, this drink is only appropriate for those who can handle an attitude that oozes bestness.  

The Mischievous
Want to cleverly hide that ‘only-live-once’ attitude? Need to keep from looking like a bottomless lush without sacrificing a good buzz? Well if you’re searching for a drink that sneaks up on you, you’ve come to the right place. We amended the recipe for a Long Island Iced Tea to also include absinthe and a special brand of moonshine. We know it’s a bit much, but come on, it’s only one drink…

The Colorful
If sticking out from the crowd is what you’re after, try this outstanding social lubricant. Available in three inspired hues, this special blend of apple schnapps, blue curacaos and grenadine mix is poured into a fishbowl decorated by Asian cocktail umbrellas and tiny, unbelievably sharp cherry swords. Garnished with a cornucopia of fruit, you are sure to be remembered.

The Imaginative
We thought to ourselves, what if we combined one liquor from each country we do business with, in even parts, but we locally sourced the bottles so as to ensure the end-result’s genuine nature, and once we got the ingredients delivered, then we could experiment with recipes until we discovered the secret formula to a truly global cocktail.

The Diligent
Mastery of the measuring cup is a lost art. But we’re going to revive it with this methodically tested formula. Featuring meticulously coordinated flavors, we combine 1.42 oz of coconut rum and 37.26 oz. of cola for a thoroughly good time.

The Dutiful
Just have whatever your companion is having; as long as it would be okay with them to do that. Otherwise find out what they recommend for you.

Derail responsibly.

Career success depends more on an individual’s ability to get along with his or her supervisor, peers, and employees than it does on intellect or technical skill. Perhaps that is why some people seem to succeed with little more than a wink and a smile. Most of the time, these individuals are friendly, spontaneous, and fun loving. At their worst, however, they can be flighty, impulsive, or outright Machiavellian. How can you be sure your employees are using their powers of persuasion for good, not evil?

Risky Business, the latest in our HDS scale ebook series, looks at how the mischievous side of people can impact their careers.

She’s the list maker, the fact checker, the one who always seems to be checking your work over your shoulder. Sure, some call it nitpicking, but isn’t anything worth doing worth doing right?

On the climb up the corporate ladder, the line between strength and weakness isn’t always clear. The same impossibly high standards that helped the perfectionist early in her career can earn her a reputation as a micromanager in the corner office.

Watch this video to see the perfectionist at work, or visit www.howdoyouderail.com to view the entire HDS video series. Follow on Twitter @ImHiDiligent #howdoyouderail

He’s the hothead, the live wire, the one with the short fuse and explosive temper. His energy is infectious, but his mood can turn on a dime, and when he starts lobbing shells, boy you’d better take cover.

On the climb up the corporate ladder, the line between strength and weakness isn’t always clear. Although the loose cannon’s intensity makes him a favorite with his boss, his volatile emotions have the people around him walking on eggshells.

Watch this video to see the loose cannon at work, or visit www.howdoyouderail.com to view the entire HDS video series. Follow on Twitter @ImHiExcitable #howdoyouderail

You've seen him around the office, he's made sure of it. He’s the boaster, the big timer, the guy who never seems to mind tooting his own horn. Some call it hubris, but are you really going to question God’s gift to business?

On the climb up the corporate ladder, the line between strength and weakness isn’t always clear. The same confidence and willingness to take credit that helped 'that guy' early in his career can turn into a sense of entitlement under the pressure of the corner office.

Watch this video to see 'that guy' at work, or visit www.howdoyouderail.com to view the entire HDS video series. Follow on Twitter @ImHiBold #howdoyouderail

She’s the idea woman, the visionary, the one with incense in her office and flowers in her hair. She doesn’t just think outside the box, she lives her life outside the box. Sure, her methods may be a bit unorthodox, but you have to dream big things to do big things.

On the climb up the corporate ladder, the line between strength and weakness isn’t always clear. Although her unique approach to problems may be an asset early in her career, it can result in a reputation as a bit of an eccentric.

Watch this video to see the dreamer at work, or visit www.howdoyouderail.com to view the entire HDS video series. Follow on Twitter @ImHiImaginative #howdoyouderail

He’s the charmer, the mischief-maker, the thrill-seeker. For him, spontaneity is the spice of life. Sure, his impulsiveness may occasionally find him climbing aboard a sinking ship, but you don’t mind bailing him out again, right?

On the climb up the corporate ladder, the line between strength and weakness isn’t always clear. The same charm and daring antics that helped the sweet talker early in his career can turn into manipulation and unwillingness to learn from his mistakes.

Watch this video to see the sweet talker at work, or visit www.howdoyouderail.com to view the entire HDS video series. Follow on Twitter @ImHiMischievous #howdoyouderail