A very new soldier was on sentry duty at the main gate of a military outpost. His orders were clear: No car was to enter unless it had a special sticker on the windshield. A big Army car came up with a general seated in the back. The sentry said, “Halt, who goes there?”
The chauffeur, a corporal, said, “General Wheeler.”
“I’m sorry, I can’t let you through. You’ve got to have a sticker on the windshield. “
The general said, “Drive on.”
The sentry said, “ Hold it. You really can’t come through. I have orders to shoot if you try driving in without a sticker.”
The general repeated, “I’m telling you, son, drive on.”
The sentry walked up to the rear window and said, “General, I’m new at this: Do I shoot you or the driver?”
Ego can be dangerous.
Have you ever met people with big ego?
They make the worst kind of leaders.
Somebody says, “I don’t mean to say that my boss has a big ego, but when he prays he says, “Dear God, do you need anything?”
I have met them. In fact I have been in the company of megalomaniacs and they give leadership a bad name.
Jim Collins in his book Good to Great describes long lasting great level 5 leaders as those who exhibit humility, are unassuming and secure in themselves as they are. They do not have to pretend to be somebody they are not. And they are in the business of building other people and not the image they want to project.
I like what popular management trainer and author Ken Blanchard has to say about ego. He says ego is Edging God Out where as the right meaning should have been Exalt God Only. That would give us a healthy handle on self-respect and esteem.
Now let us put this to application.
Zeroth. So you have this high position in your organization. Do you now begin to think that you are smarter than everybody else? That’s ego.
• So you failed to reach your month’s quota….you see somebody else reaching the target and you are not…Do you begin to sense this creepy feeling rising up within you that makes you begin to deplore and hate this person? That’s ego.
• So you realize that the one who joined the company later than you is promoted earlier than you…And you feel that the company is against you. That you do not deserve to be ignored and that the move was an insult upon your person and reputation. That’s ego.
• And in just one fell swoop your best friend earns millions in a few business deals and there you are slugging it out in your lowly work everyday trying to save a little money for your family. And then you look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself you cannot stand being perceived as inferior to your friends and you determine to make more and more money no matter what the means are. That’s ego.
• You’re a public speaker. You are an effective communicator. But this younger person is making a name for himself. In fact people are now saying that he or she is better than you and you are beginning to lose your clients. And you begin to hate and deplore this new kid in the block and find yourself bad mouthing the person. That’s ego.
Here is my advice. Remind yourself of this the next time you are out performed (and you will be) and when you out perform others (and you will as well). Do not feel sorry for yourself. Work on your competence and master your craft. Your time and opportunity will come as long as you stay faithful in your course. God doesn’t sleep and you should not too.
Ego is a dangerous thing.
And a man wrapped up in himself makes a very small package.
Many people get to the top of the success ladder because of their talents and skills and they fell down from the same ladder because of their ego and character defects. And when you look closer you will find an astounding fact. And it is this: “They have lost their faithfulness to their calling and mission.”
Don’t let your ego get into the way of being faithful.
Pride comes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.
The next time you come across a leader who is riding his haughty high horse, remember that that person’s ego is about to bring him down. Edging God out is not a good thing.
Popular columnist Ann Landers said: “Know yourself. Don’t accept your dog’s admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful.” And never forget this.
The Bible says: “Humility is one of the best ways against humiliation.”
(Francis Kong will be the lead trainer for the Dr. John Maxwell’s “Developing the Leader Within You” leadership program this February 21-22 at the Hotel Intercon Makati. For further inquiries contact Inspire Leadership Consultancy Inc. 632-8129125 )