Is Your Ego So Big You Get In Your Own Way?

Is your ego a liability or an asset in business? In life?

You know the negative stereotype of a Donald Trump. Non-empathetic. Arrogant. Know-it-all. Narcissistic. Egomaniac.

Hardly defensible as virtuous behavior.

But, narcissism can work well in business. It’s a core strength that allows you to have a deep, subconscious belief in your own worth. You’ve heard it said, “She stays cool in a crisis.” That behavior can inspire confidence and incite people to follow you.

The ability to possess unwavering courage in the face of adversity or challenge can be a tremendous asset. When you are not afraid of the unknown you can see beyond what you understand personally and you become open to new ideas. It allows you to see what your customers see.

But it can also backfire.

The trick is recognizing when to balance your ego with a little humanity in dealing with others.

Be honest about your own mistakes.

Mistakes are simply new experiences. They make you a real person. No experiences, no success.

“Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.” — Sir Winston Churchill

Approach your role as leader with humility.

Don’t push back to your own stuff. Just connect and share with others. Build relationships… people remember kindnesses done.

Suspend judgment when listening to others.

When you judge, you risk hearing only from your own experience and you risk interjecting your own opinions. Listen to the experience of others and don’t be afraid to let other people tell it to you straight. They may see problems you would overlook.

Surround yourself with talent and get out of their way.

You do not have all the answers. Don’t stifle your team. Top entrepreneurs never think they know everything. Overcome being attached to your own results. Encourage experimentation.

I’m not going to draw any conclusions here. It’s a balancing act.

Tagged as: Business Psychology, Business skills, Business success, Leadership, Team Management