Despite the fact that a big ego is often believed to be a common trait among successful entrepreneurs, it is actually not a quality linked to successful outcomes.

In fact, a U.S. survey found that those with big egos were losing out on 6 to 15 percent of potential annual revenue!

According to David Marcum and Steven Smith, authors of Egonomics, ego is “the invisible line item on every company’s profit and loss statement.”

So remember, a little humility goes a long way!

Why Egos Often Grow in Line with Success

It’s all too easy for a person’s ego to grow right along with the success of their business for a few reasons.

First, rising through the ranks usually means increased insularity from entry-level staff and even customers in some cases. Those interactions can be a check on an inflating ego, and without them, we can lose our sense of humility.

Secondly, as a person attains more power in a company, people increasingly want to please them, listening to every word they say, agreeing with everything, and telling them what they want to hear.

Finally, the comfort that comes with doing a job for many years, even as you’ve risen through the ranks, allows for the ego to grow faster than it does for someone facing new tasks each day.

That said, it’s essential that your ego is kept in check no matter what your title or how nice your office is. Here’s why…

The Dangers of an Egotistical Leader

“The ego can be the great success inhibitor. It can kill opportunities and it can kill success.” — Dwayne Johnson

The ego always looks for information that confirms what it already believes, which means that if you let your ego grow, you are wearing blinders to the realities of your organization and staff.

Furthermore, a big ego justifies everything it does. It’s easy to break with your own values and act out of character because the ego allows for inappropriate behavior in its “ends justify the means” mentality. This can lead to growing hostile in the face of criticism, interrupting others when they speak, and a “do as I say, not as I do” leadership style.

If you’ve ever worked with someone with a big ego or observed an egotistical leader in public life, you know this instinctively. You may have observed that people either tiptoe around the leader, afraid to contradict them even when it’s necessary, or play into their ego to achieve their own goals.

It’s all too easy to lose sight of our own egos as we build and grow our businesses. That’s why it’s important and courageous of us to take an introspective look at how our egos affect our work lives.

Here are my 5 best tips to keep your ego in check:

1. Keep up the hard work.

“Your ego can become an obstacle to your work. If you start believing in your greatness, it is the death of your creativity.” — Marina Abramovic

One of the best ways to stay humble is to do challenging work each and every day. Whether it’s stepping out of your comfort zone to try something new and creative, cleaning up after a staff party, or learning a new skill from the intern fresh out of college, keep doing challenging work with the attitude that nothing is below your pay grade.

2. Keep ego out of your inner circle.

“Other people and other people’s ideas are often better than your own. Find a group of people who will challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.” — Amy Poehler

Collaboration is essential to innovative work, but there’s no place for a big ego in a collaborative environment. Remember that you are not the only contributor to your success. Your family, your upbringing, your education, your privileges, and your colleagues all have helped achieve success.

3. You are not your job.

“Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it.” — Colin Powell

What a powerful quote from Colin Powell. We are each much more than the titles we hold, from the CEO down to the newest entry level employee. As a leader, choose to work with people who won’t feed into your ego, who call you out when you’re wrong, and who stand up for what is right.

4. Stay grateful.

“True wisdom cannot be obtained unless it is built on a foundation of true humility and gratitude.” — Gordon B. Hinkley

Gratitude is the opposite of egotism. Reflect daily on all that you have to be grateful for. Express gratitude to those you work with and who work for you. And in challenging moments, use them as opportunities to find gratitude.

5. Remain true to yourself.

“It’s just as important to know what you’re not because if you don’t realize your limitations, you’ll get drawn into areas that may look impressive and may feed your ego, but they are outside of your gifting and calling, outside of what God anointed you to do.” — Joel Osteen

Being true to who you are, without the cloud of ego, requires knowing yourself well – both your strengths as well as your weaknesses. By keeping those in mind, you’ll resist the ego-driven mindset some leaders fall into.

Growing your business with increased sales and revenue is only part of the life-changing mentorship I offer my Celeste Giordano Coaching clients. We also focus on character building, so they enjoy their success without sacrificing what’s most important, like faith, family, and service. If you’re ready for a different kind of coaching experience, contact me today.

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Celeste Giordano’s mission is to help business owners develop the skills, knowledge and attitude necessary to “DoublePlus™” their income and become effective and inspirational leaders in their fields. Whether it’s taking your successful business to the next level or starting a new venture, she will teach you the exact skills and strategies you need to enroll more quality prospects, build a rock-solid team, and break through obstacles to achieve real profit and lasting success. Celeste is a professional business growth specialist, a master sales strategist, and dynamic speaker with more than 40 years experience in direct sales and managing high-performing teams.

To learn more about Celeste, click here.

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