Confidence vs. Ego in Leadership
Confidence and ego are two different things that each affect our ability to lead. Let’s take a look at what they are first.
Confidence is the belief you have in yourself and what you are capable of achieving. Ego comes from the Latin word “I.” It is associating with the I, me, and mine. Another way to say it is that it is identifying with the self.
For leadership, confidence is essential. It is also something that is a challenge for many leaders. Luckily, it is a skill that can be developed. Here are four ways that confidence can affect your leadership:
Confidence is contagious. When other people see the genuine belief that you have in yourself and the team then they are more likely to believe. They will be more willing to follow your lead and want to be a part of what you are doing. On the other hand, a lack of confidence can lead to doubt amongst team members.
It can positively affect your decision-making. When you believe in yourself you will be more likely to be able to make a decisive decision. You can also make tough decisions where there is more risk involved.
You can speak up in challenging situations. Saying something in a meeting takes a certain level of confidence. Especially when it is an out-of-the-box idea or something controversial. It also allows you to speak up and say something when others aren’t being respectful or acting inappropriately.
It allows you to empower others. When you are secure in yourself you are more likely to give others additional responsibilities and allow them to lead. This will increase buy-in, motivation, and help their careers.
Now let’s take a look at ego. We all have an ego and this isn’t a bad thing. The issue becomes when we are acting primarily from the ego. Here are four ways that the ego can affect your leadership:
You put your needs in front of the needs of the team. As a leader, your job is to serve. When you are focused on the self then this gets lost and the success of the team no longer becomes the primary objective.
You are afraid of looking bad. When we are focused on the ego, we will do whatever it takes to protect it. This may be making excuses, blaming others, or not taking a risk because you are afraid of failing. This is one of the most common things that I see.
Thinking you have all the answers. When your ego becomes inflated your growth becomes stifled. In these situations, you no longer ask questions or take the time to learn new things.
Your concern becomes with holding onto power. Power can cause the ego to expand, which can be a dangerous path for your integrity.
Managing confidence and ego is about learning to grow your confidence in a healthy way and making sure that your focus is not on the self. Instead, allow the focus to be on the success of your team and the development of the people that are a part of it.
