Quiet Wins

When Mr. Watson was promoted to head of the sales team at a big multinational company, he refused to shake hands. He only gave instructions.

“This team has a lot of hardworking people,” he said at his first meeting, adjusting his branded watch like it was more important than anything else in the world. Then he assured everyone that with his experience, the team would reach new milestones.

But he didn’t lead—he projected. He was addicted to his own voice, welcomed praise, and ignored criticism like it was beneath him.

Once, Mary, one of his subordinates, pulled off a major campaign that saved a client from walking. In the follow-up meeting, Watson smiled and said

"This is what happens when you have vision at the top.”

Everyone clapped. Mary smiled. Her stomach churned.

Time and again, sincere and hardworking employees were overlooked. Credit was hoarded, and files filled with others’ work bore only his name.

When one employee finally approached him about it, he said casually,

“Don’t get bothered by these things. When I shine, we shine.”

To that, she replied,

"But you never give us credit for the work and the effort we put in. You just circulate our ideas and wear them like your own.”

She was tired. Tired of the games. Tired up with the gradual decline of health and motivation in a setting that only feeds one ego.

But one of her teammates offered a quiet piece of advice:

“You’ll meet many people like this in life. Don’t react. Stay detached from their words. Don’t let their behavior distract you from the goals you intend to achieve.”

And she listened.

Two weeks later, Mr. Watson was transitioned out of the team.

Now, the office is quieter. Calmer. People breathe a little easier.

But sometimes, I still wonder how he looked when the mirror he was so obsessed with finally cracked.

He probably didn’t appreciate what he saw.

But I did.

I saw myself.

And for the first time in years, I liked what I saw, too.

Practical Steps to Win Over a Narcissistic Person:

1. Establish Clear Boundaries : Narcissistic people often try to overstep boundaries. Protect your energy by setting clear boundaries by refusing politely.

   For example,' "If your boss tells you consistently to sit for long hours, you can politely give the response, I am happy to work for that , but first I need to complete my tasks ."

   
   

2. Document your work: Keep a record of your work and document it in a proper way .

  3. Be detached : It is primordial to remain calm and trust the process; things will definitely go your way if you give preference to silence over noise.

 4. Protect your emotional well-being : It is important to protect emotional well-being so you don't feel the burn-out.

  5. Build a support network: It can be helpful to find colleagues who may share similar experiences and can offer support or backup if needed.

6Understand when to escalate/leave: Escalate the issue to proper authorities/find other suitable opportunities .

If you’ve ever worked under a person who made you feel invisible, know this: your worth isn’t defined by their ego.

✅ Start documenting your contributions.

✅ Set healthy boundaries.

✅ When necessary, speak out, and when it's time to leave.

🌱 It's time to reclaim your power, protect your peace, and rise on your own terms.

Disclaimer:

This post is for motivational and informational purposes only and does not substitute professional advice.