Egonomics: What Makes Ego Our Greatest Asset (or Most Expensive Liability)

TheQuestions"Arrogant,self-centered,stubborn,"and"insecure"--wordsthatmostpeopleassociatewithego.Butinthisoriginal,eye-openingwork,authorsDavidMarcumandStevenSmitharguethattheupsideofegoisaspowerfulasthedownsideandanswerquestionsaboutegothathavebeenamysterytomostpeople.Inhislandmarkbook,"GoodtoGreat,"JimCollinsshowedthatoneoftwokeytraitsdefinedleaderswhotransformedorganizationsfromgoodtogreat:humility.Butifhumilityissopowerful,whydon'tmoreofushaveit?Whydoesegoallowustoreachgoodresultsbutnevergreatones,unlessbalancedbyhumility?Whydoweneedegotopersonallysucceed,whilehavingitofteninterfereswiththesuccesswepursue?TheAnswersUsingfiveyearsofexhaustiveresearch,MarcumandSmithprovidecompellingevidenceandmatter-of-factanswersonstrikingthebalancebetweenegoandhumilitytoreachthenextlevelofleadership.Theauthorsincludecasestudiestoillustratehowegosubtlyinterfereswithsuccessbutalsohowegosparksthedrivetoachieve,thenervetotrysomethingnew,andthetenacitytoconqueradversity.TheEarlyWarningSignsWeallhavemomentswhenegocostsuseverythingfromanhonestconversationtoajoborpromotion.Throughcross-disciplinaryresearch,egonomicsrevealshowtodetectfourearlywarningsignsthategoisbecomingaliability,includinghow:-beingtoocompetitivemakesyoulesscompetitive-defendingideasturnsintodefendingyourself-winningideascanbehaltedbythecreator'sownintelligenceandtalent-desiringrespectandrecognitioncaninterferewithsuccessTheKeystoEgonomicHealthThreekeyprincipleskeepegohealthy:-humility:strikingthecrucialbalancebetweentoomuchegoandnotenough-curiosity:blendingfreethinkinganddisciplinewithoutbias-veracity:removingfearofgivingorgettingfeedbacktoproducewater-coolerhonestyWithaclearfocusonelevatingthewayyoudobusiness,"egonomics"isaliberatingapproachtobecomingarareandrespectedleader.