By Bob Speyer and Justin Delos Reyes – Web Success Team

The word “ego” is typically attached to negative connotations. But there are several benefits to having an ego when working on a project with others. As online marketers, we at Web Success Team have the opportunity to work with advertisers, webmasters, traditional marketers, and public relations specialists. All of us generally have an ego because we need to achieve positive results for our client. We have found that the key to making our partnerships work is to communicate in a respectful manner. It is perfectly fine to fight for your ideas to be implemented if you genuinely believe they can lead to positive results – just don’t step on your partner’s toes in the process.

Get the Job Done

Having an ego shows that you are aware of your capabilities and what you can bring to the table for your brand or a client. Imagine being on a team where everyone was passive. Work would be left unfinished, time would be wasted, and money would be going down the drain. Every person in a team needs to have a little ego to help facilitate ideas and to develop and execute strategies. Egos that are noticeable, but not forced upon others, can also push creativity further.

Build Team Confidence
No matter what position we hold in our respective careers, we should always look for a person who can help us become better at what we do. Individuals with healthy egos are great leaders because they showcase an ability to communicate their ideas with confidence. That confidence can rub off on team members, resulting in higher levels of productivity. It can also put team members at ease since they can rely on someone to guide them in the right direction.

Avoid Narcissism
Egos can be detrimental to a team or client when it turns into narcissism. A narcissistic person consciously chooses to shun other people’s ideas because they are “unworthy” of his attention. This makes for an over inflated ego. On the other hand, someone with a good ego is open to other people’s ideas and will work with his team to move forward in a positive direction. Even when he feels strongly that his ideas are best.

Control Over-Inflated Egos
People with over-inflated egos have a tendency to overstep their boundaries. The best way to counter this is to have a written or discussed policy about what each team member’s role in the partnership is. When a person gets out of hand and is communicating in a manner that inhibits productivity, the written or discussed policy can be referenced to get them on track. Doing this is easier said than done but it has to be accomplished before a project fails.

Share Your Thoughts
How do you define the word “ego?” Do you see it only as a negative characteristic or do you agree with the positive aspects that we mentioned? We are interested in hearing your thoughts since egos can lead to both good and bad results.

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