There’s a difference between self-confidence and being egotistical. If you don’t tell people what ... [+]
Were you ever told to put your ego aside to succeed? Or what about how negative it is to display your ego? In reality, your ego is your biggest asset in pivoting your career.
For many people, especially women, it’s always about being ladylike, which means not expressing or sharing your accomplishments; be happy for the other person, but don’t brag about yourself. What a disservice. That mindset and advice are highly limiting. Some people call the ego boasting when it is actually marketing yourself. People don’t know what you’re up to or what you have done if you don’t tell them; how can they help if they don’t know? There is a fine line between being egotistical and proud of your accomplishments.
Regarding career transitions, highlighting your skills and the value you bring to a company will help you advance and level up. There’s nothing wrong with sharing your achievements. Being proud of yourself and what you’re doing is perfectly ok; you’re not afraid to let your light shine. When it comes to pivoting, that’s all that ego is. The more we can develop it positively, the better it will be.
The positive side of the ego
The ego is what drives you to keep going because you have set a particular goal for yourself. Your ego will constantly remind you, “Hey, we want this! We deserve this! We need to keep going!” During a transition, especially if you’re starting a company, you need more likes on your posts to seem credible. You need more engagement on social media to grow your followers. When you promote yourself, you’re simply saying, “Here’s what I’ve done. Here’s what I’m capable of. Now, let me take the reins and run with it.”
Reframing the mindset
Whether it was our parents, society or culture, the fear of being an outcast because of coming across better than everyone else was drilled into us.
Start reframing how you think about the ego. It’s easy to tell when someone is being authentic about themselves. Have you ever noticed when a child is so proud of what they accomplished? Their face lights up, and they smile and walk more confidently. Do we consider that child to be egotistical? No. We are happy for them. The same is valid for adults—when you genuinely share your accomplishments with someone, your authenticity shows.
Think of the ego as marketing. It comes down to tone, body language and confidence.
If you’re having trouble sharing something about yourself, start with what you are most proud of in this life. Typically, it eases the tension of sharing because you are excited, smiling and so happy. And by sharing who you are and what you do, you are opening yourself up to connect with people who can guide you in the right direction.
When you share your accomplishments, it comes back to body language, tone, intent and the group of people you’re with. If you’re intent is to show the value add, and you’re excited about it, it’s not bragging. But if all you want to do is rub it in people’s faces that you’ve accomplished more than they have, that’s the arrogance aspect, which is crossing the thin line.
The difference between successful people and non-successful people is their marketing techniques and efforts. Successful people understand that you can tell the world everything if you do it right. The ego always starts as a form of marketing. It would be best if you shared what you’re doing; it’s the only way people can align their ventures to assist you.
If you have a negative connotation with the word ego, reframe it for yourself. Come up with a different word if you have to or create a new meaning of the word that makes you feel comfortable sharing who you are with others. Do whatever it takes to make it a positive experience without crossing the line. This process doesn’t happen overnight; be patient with yourself. It’s time the world knows who you are.
