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January 13, 2016 - Do You Have a Big Ego? A Five-Minute Self-Assessment

Thursday, January 14, 2016 - 10:15am

Do You Have a Big Ego? A Five-Minute Self-Assessment
By Professor Edward D. Hess, author of Learn or Die: Using Science to
Build a Leading-Edge Learning Organization
(Columbia Business School
Publishing, 2014, ISBN: 978-0-231-17024-6, $29.95, www.EDHLTD.com)

          Many people who have big egos don't realize it—they simply think of themselves as competitive, driven, self-assured, or something equally positive. This assessment will help you determine whether or not your ego is (to paraphrase Dr. Seuss in describing the Grinch) "three sizes too big." Ask yourself: True or false: Do these statements describe my usual behavior?

  • I rarely say, "I don't know"—especially in public.
  • I rarely admit my mistakes.
  • I rarely talk about my personal weaknesses with colleagues.
  • I don't often ask for personal feedback.
  • I dislike compromising when I am debating.
  • I interrupt people when they are talking in order to give them the answer.
  • I like solving other people's problems.
  • I rarely apologize publicly to others when I may have hurt their feelings.
  • I rarely ask people how they are feeling.
  • I always strive to be the leader.
  • I make sure I get the respect I am due.
  • I work hard at looking good to others.
  • I don't enjoy talking things out with others.

          Did you have mostly "trues"? Don't despair. At least you know you have a problem...and nothing can stop you from doing some humility-building self-improvement work right away!

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About the Author:
Edward D. Hess is a professor of business administration and Batten Executive-in-Residence at the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business and the author of 11 books, including Learn or Die: Using Science to Build a Leading-Edge Learning Organization, by Columbia Business School Publishing (September 2014).

About the Book:
Learn or Die: Using Science to Build a Leading-Edge Learning Organization (Columbia Business School Publishing, 2014, ISBN: 978-0-231-17024-6, $29.95, www.EDHLTD.com) is available at Amazon.