Of all the leadership traps, none is more fatal than ego. When others around you are whispering how wonderful you are, how fortunate the group is to be led by you, then even the strongest of wills can break. Or, if you are so insecure that you must feed your own ego, then your leadership will fail. People will intuitively sense you are in it for yourself, not them.
Greek myth celebrates the Oracle at Delphi, a powerful city-state around 1600 BCE, where entrances to various temples had inscriptions over their entrances, such as “Know thyself” and “Nothing in excess.” Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, celebrated the “golden mean,” the desirable middle between two extremes. Courage, for example, is the virtue between the two extremes of recklessness and cowardice.
So it is with ego. Leaders must have a healthy sense of self to have the courage to lead, especially in challenging times, when the way is not clear, when colleagues push for contradictory courses of action, and the leader must make the final call knowing that some will not like it.
That leader needs confidence to withstand the criticism and controversy.
That leader must be grounded, authentic to what leadership authors Bill George and Peter Sims call their “True North,” cognizant of their personal values and the shared purpose, values, and vision of the group.
Leadership and Service
Above all, that leader must understand that her ultimate role is to serve the group and others impacted by the decision, not to enhance her own ego.
So, the essence of the question about ego reduces to:
“Whom do you serve? Yourself or others?”
If you are serving others, then, even though your decision may be attacked, you must have the courage and the confidence to choose accordingly, believing that your choice is right for the group.
A great contributor to overcoming ego is the realization that great leadership is a group performance, ebbing and flowing among various followers and leaders to jointly achieve the vision, even within the hierarchy of any organization.
Leadership is not all about me; it’s about us.
Leadership Derailers Assessment
Take this assessment to identify what’s inhibiting your leadership effectiveness. It will help you develop self-awareness and identify ways to improve your leadership.
Thus, much depends on our intention and whether it is for self (the ego run amuck) or for the greater good of others (serving).
Ego, which places the self at the center, is not the golden mean. The confidence to do what is right when all about you have lost their heads: that is healthy ego.
How can leaders avoid the ego traps?
A trusted, small group of a few key people, who can observe you in action, is essential. Empower them to give you open, honest, constructive feedback, especially if they sense your ego is running amuck. Meet with them regularly. The ability of the human mind to rationalize its own self-serving behavior is both astonishing and alarming. Test your tough decisions with these trusted advisors.
Find your places and times of sanctuary to examine your decisions, asking, “Whom do I serve with this decision?”
Leadership is all about relationships, healthy relationships that serve one another, not self-serving ego.
Personal Values Exercise
Complete this exercise to identify your personal values. It will help you develop self-awareness, including clarity about what’s most important to you in life and work, and serve as a safe harbor for you to return to when things are tough.
++++++++++++
Bob Vanourek and Gregg Vanourek are leadership practitioners, teachers, trainers, and award-winning authors. They are co-authors of Triple Crown Leadership: Building Excellent, Ethical, and Enduring Organizations, a winner of the International Book Awards. Check out their Leadership Derailers Assessment, complete their Personal Values Exercise, or join their community and sign up for their newsletter. If you found value in this, please forward it to a friend. Every little bit helps!
