Manipulating The Manipulator: Are Machiavellian Tactics Acceptable When Dealing With Destructive Leaders?

Authors:

Keywords: Machiavellianism; leadership; counterproductive work behavior; deviance; resilience

Abstract: Destructive leadership derails the productivity and mental health of workers. Research has shown that individuals high in different Dark Triad traits, especially Machiavellianism, tend to do perform better and report better mental health under destructive leadership when compared to others. Thus, are there lessons we can learn from the Machiavellian character to protect otherwise innocent workers from destructive supervision? Further, even if it is possible, is this ethical? Here, we grapple with both the logistical and ethical ramifications of using Machiavellian tactics to handle destructive leaders. We start with a brief discussion of the ethical implications, and then discuss the logistical constraints. We conclude with a preliminary model for training that might be promising for dealing with destructive leaders.