Janka Laura Marót, Zsolt Péter Szabó and Réka Gulyás, researchers affiliated with Corvinus University and ELTE, examined the links between performance orientation, workplace boredom and personality traits in an online survey of 210 Hungarian employees. 

The researchers distinguished between two forms of narcissism. Grandiose narcissism is typically associated with self-confidence, assertiveness and high self-esteem, while vulnerable narcissism tends to involve insecurity, sensitivity to criticism and defensive behaviour.  

The researchers had initially expected that experiencing boredom at work would weaken the tendency of employees with grandiose narcissistic traits to strive for perfection. Instead, they found the opposite: the more boring employees perceived their work to be, the stronger the link between grandiose narcissism and high performance standards became. 

“Boredom does not mean the same thing to everyone. For some highly performance-oriented employees, it may even serve as a signal that they need to prove themselves: that they can persevere even when they do not find a task particularly engaging,” said Janka Laura Marót, lead author of the study and a researcher at the Institute of Strategy and Management at Corvinus University. 

Grandiose narcissism was primarily linked to perfectionistic striving: setting high goals and aiming for excellent performance. Vulnerable narcissistic traits, by contrast, were more closely associated with perfectionistic concerns, including fear of making mistakes, criticism and feelings of inadequacy. 

The findings suggest that the fit between an employee’s personality and their work environment may matter more than simply labelling particular personality traits as positive or negative. The results should not be taken to mean that narcissism is generally beneficial in the workplace: narcissistic traits can also be associated with arrogance, excessive competitiveness and resistance to feedback. 

Although boredom cannot always be eliminated, especially in jobs that necessarily involve repetitive tasks, employers may benefit from considering the kinds of motivational environments that help different employees maintain their performance. Monotony may undermine motivation for some, while for others, under the right conditions, it may act as a cue to step up their efforts and perform at a higher level. 

The study was first published in Current Psychology.