Narcissistic Bossing and Deviant Workplace Behavior Among Subordinates in the Nigerian Civil Service

Abstract

The focus of this study was on the association of narcissistic bossing and deviant workplace behavior among subordinates in the Nigerian Civil Service. The study adopted cross-sectional survey research design. A total of eighty nine thousand, five hundred and eleven (89, 511) employees from the 36 states of Nigeria constituted the study population. However, a sample size of three hundred and ninety eight (398) was drawn using the Taro Yamen’s formula. Data were collected from the headquarter offices of the federal ministries, Departments and agencies (MDAs) in Abuja, Nigeria through questionnaire; and analyzed using the Spearman’s rank order correlation coefficient. The outcomes of such analyses revealed that narcissism is significantly associated with deviant workplace behavior measures of production deviance, sabotage, theft and subordinate withdrawal. The study consequently concluded that the presence of toxic boss syndrome is a catalyst for deviant workplace behavior which can in return have negative consequences on workers service delivery. The study recommended among many that (1) Supervision within the workplace should be consistent with laid out processes and policies. Supervisors should strive to encourage and support workers in such a way that deepens their levels of regard for the organization and as such enhance their workplace behaviours (2) Leadership should embody responsibility as well as empathy for others. Leaders should be humane and relate with their subordinates based on understanding, providing motivation through exemplary behaviour and actions as such would lead improved workers actions and behaviour within the organization.

Keywords: Narcissism, Bossing, Workplace, Deviance, Behavior, subordinate.

DOI: 10.7176/PPAR/12-2-01

Publication date:March 31^st 2022