151 Quick Ideas to Inspire Your Staff

21

How to Park Your Ego

On several occasions in this book we’ll point out the need to get yourself out of the way and practice what many call “selfless service.” You already know that putting aside your personal and selfish motives isn’t easy.

Gary was a cut-from-the-cloth entrepreneur. He was driven, persistent, and relentless in his plan to make his retail stores a huge success and financial payoff. When I arrived to consult with him the only thing he had been able to accomplish was to really upset his workforce and to make himself borderline insane.

As I worked with Gary, the problem with his leadership style leaped out of every sentence, every interaction, and every conversation with his workers. It was the deadly “I” message: I want you ...