#Machiavellianism

A newly published meta-analysis involving over half a million participants has shed disturbing new light on how Machiavellian leaders affect their workplaces. Contrary to the popular belief that such cunning, manipulative leadership either guarantees success or spells disaster, this massive international study, appearing in the Journal of Organizational Behavior, finds much more complex and nuanced realities. While Machiavellian leaders consistently create harmful environments for their followers, their own professional fate depends heavily on context rather than clear-cut penalties or rewards psypost.org.

A new meta-analysis examining more than half a million people finds that Machiavellian leaders harm employee well-being and organizational climate. The impact depends on context, not just rewards or punishments. The study, published in a leading psychology journal, shows that such leaders consistently create harmful environments, while career outcomes hinge on internal politics and perception management rather than a simple penalty system. Descriptions of Machiavellian leaders include cynicism, manipulation, and a disregard for conventional ethics.