I came across a great article this morning from HBR entitled: “Ego Is the Enemy of Good Leadership“. It’s a quick read and definitely worth your time. Kudos to the authors, Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline Carter for their insightful take.
If you’ve spent enough time on the planet, chances are you’ve encountered someone in a leadership role that’s fallen victim to the ego. And it can be an ugly encounter.
“An unchecked ego can warp our perspective or twist our values. In the words of Jennifer Woo, CEO and chair of The Lane Crawford Joyce Group, Asia’s largest luxury retailer, “Managing our ego’s craving for fortune, fame, and influence is the prime responsibility of any leader.” When we’re caught in the grip of the ego’s craving for more power, we lose control. Ego makes us susceptible to manipulation; it narrows our field of vision; and it corrupts our behavior, often causing us to act against our values.”
Of course, that assumes those values even existed in the first place.
Note: image courtesy of HBR.
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