The lonely facade of narcissistic CEOs: Surface acting among narcissistic CEOs in response to feelings of loneliness

Abstract

This study explores how narcissistic CEOs respond to feelings of loneliness through emotional labor strategies, specifically surface acting. We hypothesize that narcissistic CEOs are prone to masking their emotions (i.e. surface acting) in an attempt to maintain a confident image to counter perceived threats to their status and that this tendency is magnified when they feel threatened by loneliness. Data collected from 100 Canadian CEOs of large companies indicate a significant positive relationship between CEO narcissism and surface acting, but that this effect is only found when they report feelings of loneliness. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the emotional experiences of CEOs and highlight how narcissistic traits can exacerbate the isolating nature of leadership, potentially impacting well-being and organizational outcomes.