Start With a Win

CHAPTER 8Lose the Ego

“Don’t be a know-it-all. Be a give-it-all.”

—Adam Contos

Don't let wins lead to failures. That happens more often than you think because the biggest challenge facing a leader isn't persuading others to follow or deconstructing challenges and developing solutions. A leader's biggest nemesis is an ego spun out of control.

Sometimes a leader whose company finds success forgets that it's the company and its people who deserve the praise. The leader, as their ego takes control, begins to use the word “I” instead of “we” or the “team” and animosity builds among employees and internal leaders. They begin to leave or underperform and eventually the leader's demise will follow.

As leaders we must recognize that a team inherently will praise and support its leader for taking the risk of failures. But also remember that the leader should be the first to take any failures off the shoulders of their team and the first to allow the team to bask in their wins.

THE BEAST IS BACK

Simplified, an ego is insecurity, an emotional response (the Beast is back!) that is triggered to protect someone from their own vulnerabilities. When a person allows their ego to take control, figuratively they put up their fists to prove a willingness to fight for personal gratification.

It’s a false sense of self-actualization (achieving your full potential) as opposed to being vulnerable and giving self-actualization (sincerity).

AN EXCUSE

Someone usually manifests a big ego to conceal ...