Abstract:

We investigated the effect of narcissism on the leadership intentions of Gen-Z university students and examined the mediating effect of motivation to lead on this relationship. Research indicates that many leaders are driven by narcissism to seek and assume leadership roles and that narcissistic leaders often harm organizations. Narcissism is the set of self-enhancement tendencies and feelings of entitlement that are thought to enhance a desire for recognition and influence. Affective-identity motivation to lead (the perceived positive valence related to leading others and being seen as a leader) is thought to mediate the effect of narcissism on leadership intentions. Narcissism is strongly associated with the Millennial generation that preceded Gen-Z, but many contend that it has persisted in Gen-Z.

A cross-sectional, self-report online survey questionnaire was distributed to Gen-Z university students at a South African university. After data cleaning, 345 surveys (N = 345, 67% female) were retained for further analysis. Psychometric analysis confirmed the dimensionality (using factor analysis) and reliability (Cronbach’s alpha > .7) of all measures. There were statistically significant relationships between narcissism, affective-identity motivation to lead, and leadership intentions. Interestingly, the results indicate moderate to low levels of narcissism (M = 4.5, SD = 1.8 on a 9-point scale) with surprisingly high levels of motivation to lead (M = 4.4, SD = 1.5 on a 7-point scale) and leadership intentions (M = 4.1, SD = 1.2 on a 6-point scale) amongst the sample of Gen-Z students. Using the Hayes’ PROCESS model to examine mediation effects, affective identity motivation to lead was shown to mediate the impact of narcissism on intention to lead. The indirect effect was significant ( = .0367, CI: .0406; .1173), and the direct effect was not significant, indicating mediation.

As educators concerned with the future generation of leaders, we are optimistic that these findings, which deepen the distal-proximal modelling of personality traits (i.e., narcissism) and leadership emergence, could significantly shape educational programmes and leadership development training. This, in turn, could lead to a more nuanced understanding of leadership and the better preparation of future leaders. Our findings are particularly instructive to educators designing learning interventions about leadership, trainers in leadership development, and organizations that will employ Gen-Z graduates.

Keywords:

Leadership intentions, motivation to lead, Generation Z, Gen Z, narcissism.