It's important to understand how to lose your ego when it comes to working with people in the office or any business setting. Not doing so can lead to harsh consequences, such as losing out on opportunities or even getting into trouble. In serious cases, it'll even help get you fired. Many people put too much emphasis on their personal egos, including their ambitions and goals. Read further to avoid such antisocial behavior.

How to Lose Your Ego at Work

Focus on Quality More Than Quantity

Quality More Than Quantity


Such a task can be difficult since so much of business involves numerical data. If your yearly bonus is based on how well you or your team does, that usually depends on some kind of numbers you have to achieve; usually, it's just volume and profit. That doesn't leave you a lot of room for addressing quality. However, how you achieve those numbers is just as important as how much or often you achieve success in this area.

Would you want to work with co-workers who hate you because you always push them beyond their limits and get frustrated when they don't perform? Most people wouldn't. You can probably see how this situation is detrimental to a person's life, both professionally and personally. While you don't want to help develop a lethargic atmosphere, consider how you can sustainably help you and your team achieve goals.

Understand Your Internal Values

Just because you want to achieve something, it doesn't mean that it aligns with what you actually believe in. Perhaps you're just in the race because everyone else around you is trying to succeed. Consider whether you actually want a promotion within your company. Even if it pays well, perhaps it's not something that you actually want. Understanding this requires understanding what your values are, especially regarding where you work.

A practical way to figure this out is through journaling. It's a simple yet effective way to get your thoughts on paper and take some time to think about them. It's easy enough to start doing this ten minutes in the morning or at night.

Avoid Professional Comparisons

Professional Comparisons


When a person considers his or her ego at work, it's usually in the context of trying to be better than others. Many people aren't aware of why they're doing this. Try not to do this for its own sake. If you understand what you read earlier in this article, it's easy to see why. Different people have different situations and opportunities at any given time.

It's not always going to be fair for you or others. Keep up with consistent and positive behaviors and you'll be rewarded in due time.

In Conclusion

Knowing how to lose your ego is essential if you want to work harmoniously with your colleagues and other professionals. Often, someone's ego can get in the way of developing strong relationships for a more fulfilling career. While fueling your ego can sometimes help in the short-term, it almost always ends up hurting you more over time. If you have an awareness of this, you're less likely to fall into the ego trap.