Why psychopaths are really good at getting ahead

Why psychopaths are really good at getting aheadHave you ever wondered why it seems like so many people who make it to the top of the professional food chain and occupy positions of power at work have a similar set of characteristics? You know the typeits pretty common to use the following adjectives to describe them as they push ahead and take no prisoners along their inevitable drive toward career success merciless, cold-blooded, ruthless, ambitious, the list goes on. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.schirm(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) The truth is, theres a group of people that often possess behauptung traitspsychopathsand sometimes the volatile and unpredictable ways in which they behave works to their advantage and allows them to get ahead in ur ultra-competitive work world.Why do workplace psychopaths seem to be successful so often? Do you need to be a psychopath in order to get ahead these days? Recently, CNBC investigated why psychopaths are so good at getting ahead. Lets take a deeper look at this issue and try and shed some light on the psychopath question.What is a psychopath?According to CNBC, Psychopathy is an inherited mental disorder, an illness that is the result of a deformity in the brain. Those who are born with psychopathy can be dangerous.They are also often very successful in ascending to positions of power.Usually, psychopaths are cunning and charming, have an over-sized sense of self-worth, and are pathological liars. They show an unwillingness to accept responsibility for their actions, as well as callousness and lack of empathy.How psychopaths gain the upper handThe ability to carefully control ones emotions, allowing for logical decision-making to take hold, while displaying a sheen of chameleon-like charm that helps win the favor of those around themtypical characteristics of a psychopathcan help an individual advance in their career, regardless of industry or field. Simply put, the ability to effectively manipulate others a round them, and display a manic energy that comes across as high-energy enthusiasm, are traits that are admired and valued in most workplace settings.CNBC notes that In an office environment, overly emotional individuals are often at a disadvantage because their judgment is clouded by a desire to protect those they care about. Inversely, lacking empathy, more often than not, will help you in an environment where you have to make decisions that create negative consequences by necessity for other peopleemotional, empathetic people may struggle to make what are often chalked up to tough business decisions because of the ramifications those decisions can have on other people. Empathy can interfere with you doing your job quite a bit. And in the competitive workplace, empathy is discouraged because it may interfere with what you need to do for work It is very well known you should not be bringing your personal issues or your emotions to work.Confidence is another key trait that separates those who are successful at work from those who stay in the shadows, under the radar, and typically on the lower rungs of the career ladderand its also something that psychopaths possess in abundance. These individuals typically have an intense belief in their abilities, even to the point of grandiose magical thinking, and as long as it doesnt completely dip into the realm of absurd fantasy it could impress colleagues and help them rise above the competition. According to CNBC, other psychopathic traits that make for successful CEOs include a comfort with lying and a lack of fear of failure. The resulting bravado can translate as aggressive ambition to a corporate board Sometimes psychopaths thrill-seeking behavior and impulsivity are mistaken for high energy and enthusiasm, action orientation, and the ability to multitask. To the organization, these individuals irresponsibility may give the appearance of a risk-taking and entrepreneurial spirit.Should you change your personality t o get ahead?So should we all aim to be psychopaths at work if we want to get ahead in our respective careers? In a word, no. Although its true that psychopaths do often present with characteristics that help them advance in their careers, true psychopaths also display a variety of unsavory behaviors that can have the opposite effect. Their coolness tends to veer towards cruelty, and they often possess an inability to effectively collaborate with peers and operate for the greater good, instead operating in a completely self-serving manner.CNBC notes that psychopaths are not only able to make decisions without regard for other people, they are also driven by a desire to hurt their peers Adding to the threat of psychopaths is their ability to deceive those around them. The most disturbing part of the psychopathic condition is that it can be very hard to distinguish While psychopaths are successful, theirs is certainly not the kind of success others should try to emulate As they make it to the top, psychopaths may step over, trample on, or back-stab anyone in the way.Clearly, psychopaths possess a wide array of characteristics and personality traits, some of which are beneficial to no one and can actually be dangerous to society, and some of which that can indeed be beneficial at work. Therefore, the relative success of a psychopath in the workplace depends on her or his ability to control the particularly deviant behaviors while allowing those alpha-like traits to shine. So, rather than seeking to become psychopaths ourselves, we should strive to identify and emulate the positive traits that psychopaths tend to possess that help them make it to the top while avoiding the destructive traits that make psychopaths dangerous to be around, which should serve to help each of us find tangible and lasting success in whatever career path we choose to pursue.

How to Always Be a Step Ahead

How to Always Be a Step Ahead How to Always Be a Step AheadIts game time, so make sure your heads in it. How are YOU staying ahead of the competition and showing them youre the boss whos going to take them down? Lets get you ready the fight is coming.I know youre not a mind reader or a magician, but in order to always be a step ahead, you need to be able to predict what a recruiter, hiring manager or profil employer wants to see from a candidate. It doesnt take rocket science or some complicated mathematical formula, but it does require some deep thinking and brainstorming.First off, why should you even be a step ahead? It will make you prepared for anything. To be a good leader, intern, employee or basically any role in life, you need to be prepared for every situation. Be quick on your feet it will make you an asset. I swear by preparedness it will get you everywhere in life. It shows how you think ahead, plan and organize.Being a step ahead is actually really simple. You have to figure out what your end goal is and how to get there. Trying to get an internship at a non-profit? Figure out what skills you need for the specific department. Show that you have a passion for the cause by volunteering at events or joining a similar organization on your college campus. Having a connection to the cause wont get you the internship, but it will show the interviewer that you care. What skills will make you shine in their eyes? What kind of skills could you have that other applicants dont? Lets read over that job description and requirement list again. Do you have all of those requirements? What about the preferred or plus ones? What are some added skills that would be the cherry on top? Do you know Adobe Creative Suite programs? Final Cut Pro? Back-end coding? Throw all of it at them. Those arevaluable skills that not every person has. Is this a graphic design internship? Have you won awards for your designs? Throw that at them too. Think about what information or skil ls that you possess that would impress. Dont have ansicht skills? Lets get you those skills. Get what you want by giving them what they want an impressive, skillful intern/employee.This is where the mind reading comes in. Its about thinking of what skills would be perfect for this position and how to get you those skills. Being a step ahead requires reflection on your part and critical thinking about what skills you lack. Not everyone is tailor made for every single internship or even our dream internships, but its your job to make yourself the perfect candidate for any internship you apply to. Show them youre right for the internship by making a case. Show off what skills you have that they need. Show them how your past experiences have prepared you for this next position. Arming yourself with the necessary skills, especially if you go above and beyond, will set you apart from the rest.Take a step back and think critically about your experiences, skills and goals. How can you achie ve these goals? If you dont have the needed skills or experiences, get them. Think ahead about what you need to get where you want in life. Take a leap and get ahead.