How to Coach Yourself and Others How to Influence, Persuade and Motivate | Seite 350

The Ego
We all have an ego, and at times a very fragile one. We all yearn to feel
important. The ego, or the individuality of each person, demands respect,
wants approval, and seeks accomplishment. Deep inside every man and
woman is a desire for importance and approval. This ego of ours can
cause us to act illogically and destructively, or it can cause us to act nobly
and bravely. When our ego is starved, we seek nourishment for it in any
way we can get it. Feed the hungry ego and it will be more persuadable.
This hunger is universal; we need our ego fed on a daily basis. We have to
have an affirmation every day that our worth as a human being is still
intact and that we are appreciated and noticed. After analyzing many
surveys, Researcher J.C. Staehle found that the principal causes of
dissatisfied workers stemmed from the actions of their supervisors.[6]
Those actions included the following, listed in the order of their
importance:
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Failing to give employees credit for suggestions
Failing to correct grievances
Failing to encourage employees
Criticizing employees in front of other people
Failing to ask employees their opinions
Failing to inform employees of their progress
Practicing favoritism

All of these causes are related to a bruised ego. This is unfortunate
because studies show that employees are most effective when they are
recognized for their efforts. Psychologists at the University of Michigan
found that the foreman of a construction crew who is interested in the
people working under him gets more work out of them than the bossy
type who tries to force them to work harder.[7]
In an interesting study, school administrators sought to find the ratio of
positive to negative statements overheard in the schools' faculty lounges.
Thirty-two schools throughout the nation were visited. Now would you be
more likely to assume that there were more positive or more negative
comments? Negative? Well, you're right, but you may not realize how
right you are. Researchers were shocked to tally up the statements and
find that the ratio was 6 percent positive statements to 94 percent negative
statements![8] This is certainly a startling result for those of us who find
ourselves in positions of leadership.
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