> They believe there is nothing to learn by asking for feedback, which leads to them making disastrous decisions. Whether or not my diagnosis is accurate, I’d steer clear of such people, as in my experience catastrophe is just around the corner.
> At the opposite end of the personality spectrum are insecure people, who I’d also avoid, as they tend to see credit as a zero-sum game, needing to diminish you to bolster themselves.
You avoid them in situations in which you don't think you can influence them to be more like you think would be better for them (and you)?
Can you sometimes influence them?
Depends.
For the insecure, yes, but in a way you take on a mantle of parent or mentor where you repeatedly compliment and reassure them, allowing them to fail and seeing its not about them or their character but just another problem to solve. It helps when they see you fail publicly and handle it with grace. This often takes years, but it can work. But sometimes it doesn't, as if the psychological damage is well outside the workplace.
For the grandiose, I've never had that experience. It could be they have narcissistic, sociopathic, or psychopathic tendencies. It could also be from some other neurodivergent influence, in which case all you can do is work around them, not with them. If you are put in a position where you are the sacrificial goat, quit. Leave. There be dragons.
> It helps when they see you fail publicly and handle it with grace.
I like that mindset, it also removes some nervousness before presenting or performing something :-)
> could be they have narcissistic
That's what I thought too when skimming the article. I though it was odd that the author didn't seem to recognize this, but instead wrote about "people who think they are smarter".