We’ve all experienced business leaders with over-inflated egos. These all-knowing individuals can’t admit being wrong. Ever. In business, the excessive ego can drive incredible achievements, but it can also contribute to neglecting to do the necessary research and outreach that best informs business decisions and strategies.
The ego can tell us that “I know my customers,” “I know my market,” “I know what my competitors are doing,” “we’re gonna do it my way,” and so on. This is a serious liability and exposure for an organization.
While a healthy ego is a great asset, an unhealthy ego can result in oversight, overconfidence, missed opportunities, and serious risk. Not to mention an unhappy team and poor business culture.
It’s ok to admit that you don’t know everything. After all, how could you? Things are constantly changing all around us. And unless you are consistently connecting with and listening to your customers and monitoring your market, and seeking out other potential vulnerabilities, there will be gaps in your knowledge.
It’s much healthier and realistic to say, “I know a lot about my business, market, and customers, but I’m always working to learn more.” That not only makes sense but creates confidence in your team. A little bit of honesty and vulnerability goes a LONG way.
“The pretense of knowledge is our most dangerous vice because it prevents us from getting any better.” - Ryan Holiday, Ego is the Enemy: The Fight to Master Our Greatest Opponent.
Monitor your ego and use it to drive your business forward rather than hold it back.
Be confident and driven by your past achievements, but focus on enhancing your knowledge to fuel tomorrow’s accomplishments.
Be a leader that empowers your team to contribute to the overall success of the organization. An integrally involved and invested team can achieve the impossible. And you’ll find that it’s more rewarding to do it together - than it is to do it alone.