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The Dangers and Costs of Pride and Ego

Written by: Marshall W. Northcott

Article Overview: Wise men and women are aware of the obstacles and challenges that stand between them and achievement of their goals and achievements. Discover the role that pride and ego play in your life successes and how increased awareness can make the difference for you. Read on...

The Dangers and Costs of Pride and Ego

In his book Egonomics, Steven Smith states, "71% of businesspeople say that ego is costing their companies more than 15 percent of revenue per year." It is essential in business, that we ask ourselves with each decision and action, "By making this choice, am I feeding my ego or attempting to fill my bank account?" Ego can also easily translate into conceitedness and is often associated an unrealistic confidence in the possessor's own abilities, that super cedes their rationale to avoid perilous risk.

Ego is a word that has a negative connotation in society but don't confuse the perceived definition of ego with the actual one. Ego is associated with self-esteem, drive and determination, it only becomes negative when it is selfish. Leaders are by nature proud people and it is doubtful that a person claiming to have no ego would likely climb to the top of any profession or organization. The constant challenge is avoiding the threat of the dreaded ego trip, a destination that is fuelled by the constant need for feeding to the point that sense of true direction is lost.

Pride and ego can blind people and often makes them guilty of unwise choices and rash decisions that they may later come to regret. Pride can cloud judgment and cause emotional stupidity. The only thing worse than wounded pride is taking action based on the state of mind that it creates. Many leaders have severely limited their ability to lead because of pride and ego. An out of control ego can become so over inflated that it can come crashing down like a house of cards if left untended.

I have worked for prideful people who projected a feeling of superiority and were unwilling to accept feedback, opinion or criticism. I have suffered in an environment where I was instructed never to speak to and definitely never question the President of the company. I have watched these leaders first hand build successful companies while their staff lived in fear of them. I have witnessed a person so fixated on themselves that they forgot about what really matters most and lost sight of the big picture and what is of greatest importance. I have also seen them be completely wiped out by their own perceived greatness. I have heard the oppressed savor the last laugh with comments like; "Looks good on them!" or "They had it coming!" That is the true reality of pride and ego that has gone too far, people on your own team, within your own organization wanting more than anything for you to fall on your face and be devastated! They will be secretly cheering for you to get knocked off your pedestal and fail!

Keeping your ego in check or under control is essential Decisions and actions taken that are fueled by an out of control ego or blind pride can be regretful ones. The problem is, people who are way out of control in this regard are typically too foolish to recognize or admit that they had blundered.

You must harness the positive attributes of your ego and at the same time be aware of the natural tendency to become affixed on personal agenda to the point of losing sight of what is best for the greater good. Having and allowing an inner circle of confidants, a mentor or select leaders (specialists) within your organization the right to speak freely is critical. They must be permitted to offer opinion, feedback, perspective and even criticism without repercussion! You must be open and willing to suspend judgment, consider their advice and, if it is the right thing to do, change your direction. Get honest and ask yourself, "Does pride in my own qualities or business accomplishments ever tend to go to my head making me self absorbed and full of myself to the point that all my focus is on me and trying to impress others rather than for the greater good of my company or organization that I lead or serve?"

The bigger your leadership role becomes, the greater the likelihood that your pride and ego can become factors. Always remember who you are and where you came from. Chances are, you didn't make it on your own and you can never afford to think that you can stay there on your own either!

"A good leader is a person who takes a little more than his share of the blame and a little less than his share of the credit."

Related Articles
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  BOOK REVIEW: Why Pride Matters More Than Money: The Power of the World’s Greatest Motivational Force (By Jon R. Katzenbach, Crown Business, 2003, ISBN #0-609--61065-1)

Article Tags: businesspeople, confidence, ego trip, feeding my ego, house of cards, judgment, nbsp, negative connotation, profession, rash decisions, rationale, risk, self esteem, steven smith, stupidity, successful companies, superiority, true direction, unwise choices, wounded pride



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