When it comes to leadership, the line between confidence and egotism can be blurry.
Everyone has an ego, and we would achieve little in life if we didn’t have a part of ourselves that believes we can overcome the challenges we face.
Unfortunately, things can get out of hand at times. When a leader has an inflated ego, it can cause the entire team’s morale to plummet, with some employees fleeing for better opportunities elsewhere.
There are also negative consequences for the company. According to one study, narcissistic leaders are not only less collaborative and ethical, but their organizations’ cultures are also less collaborative and ethical.
In other words, the negative example set by those egotistical leaders pervades the entire culture.
As a result, it’s critical that leaders keep their egos in check while exuding the confidence required to inspire those around them. With that in mind, here are a few things leaders should be aware of when it comes to out-of-control egos – and how to deal with them:
Ego can cause you to prioritize your own needs over those of others
Leaders with large egos can become so focused on themselves that they lose sight of the importance of the team. If you consider the needs of your team to be unimportant, it’s time to reconsider both them and yourself. As a veteran, I can tell you that the military tries to instill the value of teamwork in people right from the start because lives are on the line. At your company or organization, lives may not be on the line, but how the team functions are. And if your ego keeps you from telling team members how important they are and how much you care about their needs, the entire company could suffer.
Ego can cause you to undervalue those around you, but this comes at a price
People with large egos sometimes build themselves up by tearing others down. If members of your team believe they can’t do anything right and aren’t valued, their self-esteem will suffer. (I recall seeing women in the military struggle because they were made to feel like they didn’t belong or were unqualified.) When people’s self-esteem is low, it’s difficult for them to perform at their best. If team members aren’t meeting the job’s requirements, they must be corrected and given instructions on how to improve. Instead of tearing them down, see this as an opportunity to build them up.
Read Follow Your Startup Dreams With These Steps.
You can’t admit you don’t know everything because of your ego
You are unlikely to show your team that you value their input if you believe you are always right and everyone else is always wrong. People also want to believe they are being heard. Let go of the notion that to be a great leader, you must be the smartest person in the room and know everything. As your leadership responsibilities expand and become more complex, become more at ease with being a generalist. Trust your employees as specialists and guide them in the direction you want them to go.
It can be difficult to strike the right balance of ego. After all, having a healthy ego gives you the confidence to soar and make the difficult decisions that your job necessitates.
Just make sure it doesn’t spiral out of control.
Learn more from business and read 20 Signs of Leadership Excellence.
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