Some amount of ego can be beneficial to your organization. It can portray a sense of confidence and gravitas. However, too much ego can be toxic. As you climb the ranks of your company, you could fall victim to Hubris Syndrome, a phenomenon in which your ego grows as people listen to you and try to please you more often.
Here’s why that’s bad. An overinflated ego warps your ability to make business decisions. You might distort facts, looking for ones that mesh with what you want to believe. You become a target as others seek to exploit your cravings for attention and affirmation. You could become difficult to work with, micromanaging and criticizing others.
Luckily, there are a number of different ways to deflate a rapidly growing ego. Perhaps most importantly, you should hire people who disagree with you and who aren’t afraid to voice those disagreements. As a leader, it’s also helpful to practice gratitude often.
Check out the infographic below to and how you can deflate it.
Guest Author: Meredith Wood
Bio: Meredith Wood is a vice president at . She is frequently sought out for her expertise in small business lending and frequently contributes to SBA, SCORE, Yahoo, Amex OPEN Forum, Fox Business, American Banker, Small Business Trends, MyCorporation, Small Biz Daily, and StartupNation.