8 Characteristics of a Machiavellian Leader

1. Machiavellian leaders are duplicitous. 

We can go straight Webster’s here. Duplicity is a contradictory doubleness of thought, speech, or action; especially, the belying of one’s true intentions by deceptive words or action. Sound familiar?

2. Machiavellian leaders are cunning.

These leaders are crafty. They’re artists and their finished masterpiece is the result of the crafty use of wiliness and trickery.

3. Machiavellian leaders are narcissistic.

They have excessive and exaggerated feelings of self-importance, though these feelings often masquerade as something more noble. Don’t be fooled. Self-interest is the most often and valid impetus of most conscious action for the narcissist.

4. Machiavellian leaders believe the ends justify the means.

Scary.

5. Machiavellian leaders believe everything’s part of one big game they’re playing.

The workplace, their careers, all the way down to every interaction, is all part of the game for Machiavellian leaders. It’s all part of the master plan to either gain or maintain power or influence.

6. Machiavellian leaders excel in control and manipulation.

They know just the buttons to push and have no problems pushing them. You’re not doing what they want? Don’t worry. You will be soon, and you won’t even know how it happened. Or you will, and you’ll feel like a little bit of your soul died on the inside. Before long, you realize that your skills, abilities, and so on are really just there for…well…them.

7. Machiavellian leaders would love to be loved, but not at the expense of not being feared…er…”respected.”

You’ve seen The Godfather, right?

8. Machiavellian leaders don’t usually reveal the entire and/or real reason they’re doing something unless it’s somehow advantageous to them.