Key #6 for Remarkable Leadership is Keeping the Ego in Check!
The dictionary defines ego as a persons sense of self-esteem or self-importance. This is interesting because a healthy self-esteem is a requirement to be a remarkable leader and self-importance is what destroys it!
The self-importance side of the ego will be the focus of this post.
Self-importance means an exaggerated sense of one’s own value or importance!…Ladies and gentlemen we have identified the problem! 
Self-importance is the area of ego that needs to be monitored and kept in check.
This is why the first order of business when I was mentored in the Ancient Wisdom way of living was removing self-importance. I’m not the only one…it’s been that way for 1000’s of years. The Ancient Wisdom Teachings are full of this focus.
And, since the Ancient Wisdom Teachings have survived for so long as a way to master the human experience, maybe we should give them some credence.
Why is Ancient Wisdom full of a focus on removing self-importance?
Because an exaggerated sense of one’s own value or importance leads to…
- Taking things personally and being defensive.
- A lack of consideration for a different opinion on the best course of action.
- Feeling threatened on a regular basis.
- Bringing out every negative aspect of self-importance in our relationships at work and at home.
- In general self-importance is at the root of most suffering in the human experience…and work is no exception.
The suffering brought on by the self-importance side of ego is why the systems of Ancient Wisdom make it the first priority to obliterate it!
It’s virtually impossible to fulfill our potential when we’re filled with self-importance, because there’s no room for personal growth.
As a leader of people you can save yourself a lot of time and frustration if you remember and apply the following.
No one person is more important or valuable than another. Stop looking at and judging people by their value to the company, or your life, and realize that they are just as an important piece of the whole overall human experience as you or anyone else.
As leaders we have to assess or judge an employee’s performance, but we can do that with out judging the individual as a human being.
Check your ego at the door at the beginning of each day, and especially when you feel any negative emotion in working and communicating with those you lead, and they will stop reflecting that back to you.
and…
Everything about your job of leading others will become much easier. Isn’t that one thing we all want?
How can you check your ego and become a more effective leader?
How would doing his affect your ability to get people to do what you need them to get done?
Until next time…Lead with a Commanding Presence
John