Makerspaces are built on collaboration, shared knowledge, and community-driven innovation. At their best, they create spaces where ideas flourish, and leadership serves the people.
But not all leadership is about service.
Some people step into positions of power not to build, but to control. Not to create, but to claim credit. Not to support the community, but to shape it in their image, demanding obedience while producing nothing of value.
You’ve probably met this type before.
They infiltrate nonprofits, tech meetups, and online spaces—anywhere where governance is just loose enough for them to tighten their grip. They leave behind a trail of drama, gaslighting, and failed initiatives. And when it’s all said and done, they always reframe history so they were the victim or the hero.
This guide is for anyone who has watched a community go from thriving to toxic under the influence of a narcissistic leader. It’s also a manual for recognizing the warning signs before it’s too late.
But first—let’s take a deep dive into the narcissist’s own playbook.
“Why make things when you can rule?”
Have you ever looked at a thriving makerspace and thought, Wow, this place would be so much better if everyone just listened to ME?
Do you find yourself frustrated that people expect you to actually build, contribute, or lead by example instead of just recognizing your natural brilliance?
Do you believe that democracy is just a stepping stone to your rightful dictatorship?
Then congratulations! You’re ready to take over your local makerspace!
Follow these steps carefully, and soon, you too will be the undisputed ruler of an organization where nothing gets built but bureaucracy.
Step 1: Never build. Never teach. Never contribute. These are activities for peasants. Instead, insert yourself into leadership through sheer persistence.
Step 2: Pretend to be an authority by mastering one thing: policy minutiae. No one reads bylaws, so if you memorize just enough to sound smart, people will assume you know what you’re doing.
Step 3: Talk a lot about “vision” and “culture.” People will be too afraid to admit they don’t know what you actually do.
🚨 WARNING: Occasionally, someone will ask what you've personally built. Deflect immediately. Say your “real work” is “facilitating others’ success.” Bonus points if you call yourself a steward of the community.
Create rules that only you can interpret. The more convoluted, the better. If someone asks for clarification, just say “It’s complicated.”
Establish “necessary” committees that you conveniently control. Example:
A committee to streamline decisions (which ironically slows everything down).
A “Governance Task Force” (where you and your friends ensure you remain in charge).
Set up membership hurdles. The best way to control a space is to limit who gets in. Make them prove their worth. (To you, of course.)
📌 Remember: If someone suggests simplifying the rules, accuse them of “trying to seize power.” Irony is not your concern.
If anyone questions your leadership, act offended. Say, “I built this place.” Even if you didn’t.
If you make an unpopular decision, convince people it was their idea.
If someone presents evidence of your manipulation, flip the script. Accuse them of being toxic, obsessed, or a dangerous threat to the community.
💡 Best phrases to memorize:
“I don’t understand why you’re attacking me.”
“People have no idea how much I’ve sacrificed.”
“I’m just trying to protect the culture.”
Identify leaders who are well-liked. These people are dangerous.
Spread rumors about them subtly.
“I don’t want to start drama, but I heard they’re difficult to work with.”
“I used to respect them, but they’ve changed.”
“We need to watch out for people who are power-hungry.”
Push them to quit. Then blame them for being “too emotional” when they leave.
📝 If they call out your behavior, accuse them of being the real narcissist. Always strike first.
At some point, even your most loyal followers will realize you produce nothing but chaos.
When this happens:
Announce that you’re stepping away “for the good of the community.”
Frame yourself as a victim. Say you were “forced out” by “toxic people.”
Wait until the group collapses under the weight of your own policies. Then return as the only person who can fix it.
📌 REMEMBER: No matter how much damage you do, you will always reframe yourself as the hero.
Satire aside, this pattern is real. It plays out again and again in community spaces, nonprofits, and online groups.
But here’s the truth: it doesn’t have to be this way.
Makerspaces—and any community built on shared creativity—thrive when leadership serves the members, not the other way around. The best leaders:
Empower people to build without gatekeeping.
Step aside when it’s time for new voices.
Create policies that serve the community, not consolidate power.
So the next time you see someone acting more like a dictator than a collaborator, remember:
It’s not leadership. It’s just another narcissist trying to control something they could never create.
Neutralizing Narcissism: The Awakening Edition
