Narcissists are driven by a desire to win and can become obsessed with being the best. They often brag about themselves and look down on others, and while their toxic behavior may be obvious to some, their bragging can cause others to be impressed. This can lead to a formerly well-run team becoming a clubhouse for narcissists, who then promote and hire other narcissistic people below them, perpetuating the cycle at every level. This is why dysfunctional groups cannot be fixed from within and why such dysfunctional groups will cover up misconduct.
Western culture values the idea of being the best or the winner, so people are naturally impressed by that without thinking about what it really means. Empaths are often unaware of the situations of narcissists and become flying monkeys or victims. Narcissists are very lazy, yet they manage to keep their job and even ascend. They get people to do their jobs through harassment, fear, and other traits of the dark triad.
The worst thing is that because they succeed in being toxic, they keep doing it because it works for them. There is no motivation on their part to be kind, because they know that being a jerk works. Executives have sacrificed most of their lives to get where they are, so all they care about is 'what can you do for me', as their whole identity is their career.
Forbes suggests it's OK for employees to ask why they were denied promotion. If your relationship with your employer is friendly enough to be able to discuss the issue with him, request a private meeting. He'll probably guess your intention and be prepared with an explanation. Just ask for feedback on why you missed it.
A study by the University of Massachusetts found that most people who lie do so to be seen as smarter or more sympathetic, two motivations that are understandable. It can be tempting to gossip at work (almost a quarter of employees report that they regularly gossip at work), but focusing too much on other people's jobs, life, and work means less mental energy for their own work.
When it comes to promotion time, decision makers look for people who can solve problems with their own feet. They promote people who are like them, and the higher you climb the corporate ladder, you will only find more skilled liars and charlatans. On the other hand, some of the less successful leaders (and those who are never promoted) are usually not aware of themselves.
When managers are looking for people to promote, they want to promote those who not only excel at their job but also live the company's values. They want someone they trust to do the work even when they aren't around to check it out.
