10 Ways to Recognize a Workplace Psychopath at Your Company

Gardiner Morse, the senior editor at Harvard Business Review claims that approximately 1% of the population is psychopaths. However this number is on the raise in the areas of business, politics, government, law firms, and media according to research work by Professor Robert Hare, PhD at the University of British Columbia and his associate, Psychopath expert Paul Babiak, PhD.

To deal with workplace psychopaths, employers and employees have to know how to recognize them. You will be wrong in thinking that if you encounter a workplace psychopath you will identify him or her straightaway. In fact it is not obvious if you have not come across one before. You can be easily fooled and often charmed by them. You do not suspect anything until you begin to feel trapped and controlled by them.

To make the situation worse, they might be highly respected by their superiors because they usually have a drive, high level of energy, are highly intelligent, appear as natural leaders and they get things done. The paradox is that if you start to complain about their behavior you may appear as an incompetent underachiever who cannot cope with stress or the demands of work.

Below are 10 ways to recognize a Workplace Psychopath at Your Company:

1. Comes across as smooth, polished and charming to impress and influence others.

2. Turn most conversations around to a discussion of him or herself to get publicity and reputation.

3. Silent sabotage, discredits, puts down others in order to build up own image and reputation.

4. Over exaggerating, faking data, lies to coworkers, customers, or business associates with straight face.

5. Considers people he or she has outsmarted or manipulated as dumb or stupid.

6. Opportunistic; insincere, arrogant, untrustworthy, take chance, hates to lose, plays ruthlessly to win.

7. Comes across as cold and calculating, put blame to others and make them as scapegoats.

8. Act in an unethical or dishonest manner for taking credit and gaining advantages from others.

9. Create a power network in the organization especially Human Resource VP/director and uses it for personal gains.

10. Shows no regret for making decisions that negatively affect the organization, peers, company, shareholders, or employees to achieve personal goals.