As an Executive Coach, I see the same patterns at the top again and again:
- grandiosity instead of grounded authority,
- reactivity instead of reflection,
- intimidation instead of responsibility.
Recognizing this hurts.
Because pathological narcissism often looks like strength - until systems hollow out: truth disappears, fear replaces trust, and loyalty matters more than reality.
An unsettling reference point here is 𝘖𝘵𝘵𝘰 𝘒𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘨, by now 96 - a psychoanalyst who fled Nazi Germany in 1939 and devoted his life to studying narcissism, aggression, and power.
Kernberg showed that narcissism is not one thing:
Healthy narcissism allows confidence and responsibility.
Pathological narcissism rests on grandiosity, entitlement, envy, and a fragile self - and becomes dangerous when paired with power.
His core insight remains disturbingly accurate:
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦.
When leaders depend on admiration, organizations slide into appeasement and image management.
When dissent feels threatening, truth is silenced - long before performance declines.
And Kernberg was clear about what good leadership actually requires:
high intelligence, deep human understanding, strong moral commitment, 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦 narcissism, and 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦 mistrust.
Measured against this, the gap we see today is no longer subtle.
We are facing a 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐞.
And it persists because narcissistic leadership survives on tolerance, silence, and adaptation.
So the questions become unavoidable:
To those with power:
Do you have the courage to confront yourself, to name reality honestly, and to correct course when needed?
To all others:
Do we have the courage to speak up, to stand firm, and to stop normalizing the abuse of power?
Because narcissists are never stopped by individuals acting alone.
Just as Europe will only have a chance in this new world if it remains truly united, the same is true at every level - societies, organizations, teams.
𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞.
𝐍𝐨𝐰.
Our world has fundamentally changed.
Old assumptions no longer hold. Rules no longer protect by default.
For many in power, only the law of the stronger seems to matter now.
What also becomes visible is this:
𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬.
Not only in politics.
Also in corporations.
I say this from direct experience.