How Emphasizing Followership Can Combat Leader Narcissism

June 16, 2026 - 18:23

For decades, leadership training has focused almost exclusively on the person at the top. Traits, charisma, and decision-making styles dominate the curriculum. But a growing body of research suggests that this obsession with the leader is creating a blind spot. By ignoring the role of followers, organizations may actually be enabling narcissistic behavior.

The concept is called followership. It is the study of how people who are not in charge influence the direction and health of an organization. When followers are passive or deferential, they create a vacuum that a narcissistic leader can easily fill. These leaders crave admiration and often surround themselves with people who will not push back. The result is a culture of silence where bad decisions go unchallenged.

To fix this, human resources departments need to shift their focus. Instead of only assessing a candidate's ability to command, they should evaluate their ability to be commanded. Interview questions can probe how a candidate reacts to criticism from a junior team member or how they handle a subordinate who offers a better idea. Performance reviews should include 360-degree feedback that specifically measures a manager's openness to dissent.

Training programs should also change. Teach employees how to be effective followers. This means learning how to speak up with respect, how to challenge authority without being insubordinate, and how to support a good leader while resisting a bad one. When followers are skilled, they act as a buffer against narcissism. They do not enable the leader's worst impulses.

Finally, organizations must reward followership. Promotions should not go solely to those who look like leaders. They should go to those who demonstrate the courage to follow well. This creates a culture where leadership is a shared responsibility, not a solo performance. By balancing the power dynamic, companies can protect themselves from the damage that unchecked narcissism causes.