DO YOU NEED A BIG EGO IN BUSINESS? Probably…

Ok, I’m about to be politically incorrect. I think men and women can have the same size ego, BUT I do think men can have even bigger egos given the role that they have had to play down through the millennia. Honestly, there they were, on the forefront of the hunting scene. It is what it is. She wants dinner, most likely he has to go and get it. Then, they leveraged this leadership role into all kinds of “me first” scenarios and wham! Years later, they are still running things… Take a look at the Fortune 500 and its list of CEOs. With all this said, I think today it’s tough on guys because their roles have changed, and we all know how hard adaptation can be when it happens quickly.

Now, women do bring in the bacon, and as they say, generally have to fry it up in the pan. What has this got to do with ego and business? When I was coming up in the world, the business landscape was DOMINATED by men. Certainly, that kind of influence can give you a bit of swagger (especially if it’s perpetuated by a healthy dose of ego). I was turned off by this, but recognized its value.  Now, years later, as I run my own business and have zero interest in losing all of my femininity (I may be in charge but I don’t want to be the man, I like my heels too much for that) I do have to watch the ego. You’re out front all the time and it’s natural for it to creep up. Ego isn’t necessarily bad, but it can get ugly. I do think ego can help (you need it in those scary pitches when everyone in the room is bigger than you), but you also have to be careful to keep it in check. My advice… Pull it out when you need it and make sure to tuck it away in your purse when you don’t.
 

Source: theonion.com