Ego – A Founder’s Worst Enemy

I think the founder’s worst enemy is often his ego. We all know that founders are smart, they’re passionate, they believe in their dreams, and they feel that they can pull off something which other people can’t. They’re willing to take on extreme challenges and prove to the world that they can make a difference for the better.

This is a tall order. You need a healthy dose of self-esteem and a strong ego if you want to become a startup founder. This is all for the best because you need that self-determination and self-belief if you’re going to overcome all the hurdles which the world is going to put in your path before you can finally accomplish your goal.

When Ego Gets In The Way Of Work

All of us admire people like Steve Jobs – larger-than-life characters, who stood up for what they believe in, and had the courage of their convictions. But sometimes his ego can get in way of the entrepreneur. Because he wants to prove that he is the brightest person in the room, he will often not listen to co-founders or employees who may be giving him great advice.

He chooses to ignore this, because he thinks of himself as being the boss, and expects everyone else to treat him as the boss as well. He closes his mind and is not willing to listen to suggestions.

If you think you already have all the answers, you will never learn anything new and will remain stuck at the level you have reached.

This often spills over when he’s pitching to investors – or is talking to the funders on his board. He believes he has all the answers and doesn’t need to listen to anyone else. This can become a clash of egos, especially when you deal with institutional investors who have a mind of their own. They also have strong beliefs and will have a completely different worldview.

In Conclusion

As a founder, you need to learn to keep your ego in check and respect and trust everyone who works with you, because you need to work together as a team.

As Mark Twain pointed out, “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”

[This post by Dr. Aniruddha Malpani first appeared on LinkedIn and has been reproduced with permission.]

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