Inside the Head of the CEO Series: The Dark Triad with Dannielle Haig

What really drives behaviour at the top of an organisation?

In this powerful and thought-provoking session, Dannielle Haig takes us inside the head of the CEO to explore the Dark Triad of personality traits that can show up in leadership, sometimes subtly, sometimes destructively, and often misunderstood.

The Dark Triad refers to three interrelated personality characteristics: Machiavellianism, Narcissism, and Psychopathy.

While these traits are often discussed in extreme terms, elements of them exist on a spectrum and can be present in high-performing, influential leaders. For Executive Assistants, understanding these behaviours is not about labelling, but about awareness, insight, and practical navigation.

What Executive Assistants Will Gain from This Session

As a trusted partner to senior leaders, Executive Assistants sit at the intersection of leadership, stakeholders, and organisational culture. This session is designed to provide psychological insight and practical tools to help you operate with confidence, clarity, and emotional intelligence.

You’ll gain a deeper understanding of how certain leadership traits influence decision-making, communication styles, and workplace dynamics, allowing you to anticipate challenges, adapt your approach, and protect both yourself and the wider business.

This insight enables you to support your leader more effectively, manage stakeholders with greater awareness, and maintain strong professional boundaries, even in high-pressure or complex environments.

How This Helps You Support Your Leader and Stakeholders

Understanding the Dark Triad equips you to communicate more strategically with leaders who display challenging or intense behaviours, navigate power dynamics and competing priorities with confidence, remain a calm, informed influence during moments of pressure or volatility, and protect stakeholder relationships and organisational trust through informed judgement.

Rather than reacting to behaviour, you’ll be able to respond with insight, professionalism, and control.

Three Key Takeaways from the Session

1. Behavioural Awareness

   Learn to recognise the traits of Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy in leadership behaviours, and understand their impact on communication, culture, and decision-making.

2. Practical Management Strategies

   Gain realistic, actionable tools for managing up, setting boundaries, and adapting your working style to different leadership personalities, without compromising your values or wellbeing.

3. Increased Confidence and Strategic Impact

   Strengthen your confidence as a senior business partner, better equipped to advise with insight, handle sensitive situations, and influence outcomes with emotional intelligence.