http://leadershipfreak.wordpress.com/2014/12/11/egoless-leadership-is-a-myth/
I ran across this post arguing that ego-less leadership is a myth. (Interesting read. You might check it out before continuing on here.)
Ego-driven leaders ultimately exist to be served by people.
We all have an ego–that’s a normal part of th human psyche. To sagely argue that egoless leadership is a myth is somewhat of a straw man argument. It’s a myth simply because there is no such thing as someone without an ego.
Ego is one’s sense of self, a self identity.
The question is not whether a leader has an ego, but what kind. It is possible for us to be leaders whose sense of self and identity is oriented outward to those around us and to the good of our organization.
To have an ego is not synonymous with being self-centered.
Selfishness Disguised as Service
Surely a leader may stay late, go the extra mile, carry a larger share of the load, or a host of servant-styled actions, but be motivated by the desire to be noticed by executive management. Service may well mask what is a personal ambition for a promotion, reputatio, status, and perks. Shrewd, self-centric leaders can be play the role to perfection.
Self-centered leaders:
- need to be noticed
- need to be heard
- see others as stepping stones
- use service as a means of manipulation
Others-Oriented
But a leader who’s ego is oriented toward others and not the self is genuinely motivated by a care and concern for others, by taking pleasure in seeing a colleague or subordinate succeed.
Other-centered leaders:
- Willingly sacrifice of themselves and their resources.
- Serves for the wellbeing and success of followers, not for the sake of the agenda.
- Gives credit to others and does not seek the spotlight.
- Suffers and identifies with those they lead. Not leading from above but from within.
