Top level managers

Top level managers all indicate that one of the traits they value in their technologists is the ability to keep their egos out of the everyday interaction in the office.
regards,
Dwika


Tip #4: "Following: Leave Your Ego At Home"
by: Steven Cerri

I've completed writing about the three "personal traits" that make an Exceptional Individual Contributor, an Exceptional Technologist. With this newsletter I'll begin the process of discussing the three traits that are "Group Traits" that lead to Exceptional Individual Performance. The first of these three traits is titled, "Following: Leave Your Ego At Home".

Leaving your ego at home means exactly what it sounds like. Top level managers all indicate that one of the traits they value in their technologists is the ability to keep their egos out of the everyday interaction in the office.

Now I know that leaving your ego outside the conference room door is easier said than done. But, the best, the brightest, and the most successful do it. They do it because they want to be successful rather than wanting to be "right". They do it because they know that sooner or later success in an organization is a function of being part of a team, not being a "lone wolf" (of either gender).

Most of the coaching issues I help technologists with at some point comes down to ego. They either don't want to talk to other people because they don't think they are as bright. Or they don't want to cooperate with certain people because they don't agree with them, they like their ideas better. Or they don't want to include others in their discussions and decision-making processes because they don't think others have anything to contribute. All of these issues revolve around ego; an ego that doesn't value other people and doesn't value what they can contribute to the team.

There is an old saying "Either lead, follow, or get out of the way." Well, it's a stupid statement. It's useless and more critically, it's misleading. I can't emphasize enough the damage believing in this phrase can do to people who want to be good contributors to their organization. It leads the inexperienced to believe that they either have to always lead or they just have to get "run over" by those who do. It's dumb.

The truth is that the very best technologists, the very best technical professionals, know how to behave in a variety of ways in a variety of situations; they can either lead, or cooperate, or support, or follow, or become transparent, all while contributing to the team. And they know that "getting out the way" can sometimes be the best way to contribute.

So the very best and the very brightest know that, as they mature professionally, their goal is to "either lead, or cooperate, or support, or follow, or become transparent", AND... they must know WHEN to do WHICH! There is an optimal or appropriate time to lead, to cooperate, to support, to follow, and to be transparent. In order to know which to do when, you cannot have your ego engaged. You must be able to clearly and effectively analyze the situation and keep your own personal emotional energies out of it.

Keep your ego in check and pick the most effective behavior in any given situation and you'll be able to choose your career.