Leading with Impact: Ego or Purpose?

In a world dominated by ego, many leaders have a distorted view of their own importance and power. That’s why it is imperative to keep checking in with yourself by asking whether you are leading from a place of ego or purpose.

Ego is about what you get; Purpose is about how you impact.

Leading from ego means leading from a place of personal interest without consideration of others, whereas leading from purpose means that you are driven by a sense of mission – a strong “why” – that is bigger than yourself.

Take a moment for reflection. Ask yourself how you’re leading. Are you driven by what you can get or how you can impact? Ego or Purpose?

Enter social media

As a leader in this digital age, you get to have a far broader reach if you use technology to your advantage and recognise the opportunity to impact far more people, not only those in your immediate workspace and surroundings. With social media, everything you say or do is visible, even globally, which is why it is the perfect indicator of the messages you’re putting out. Check in with yourself and see whether you are posting with purpose or ego in mind.

There are an estimated 2.77 billion social network users around the world. Many feel the need to try to stand out purely for the sake of being noticed, being driven by an ego that constantly seeks post likes and engagement, putting authenticity aside and promoting ideas they don’t really care about.

However, if your message is clear and aligns with your purpose, values and vision, you can make sure to utilise social media for the far reaching impact you can have as a leader.

So, why are you posting on social media?

There are many reasons why people post online, but the main questions you should ask yourself is whether you are posting because:

You want to see how many likes you can get, or
You believe in what you are writing and want to impact those around you.

These two reasons can work hand-in-hand, but depending on your overarching reason, you may need to take a deeper look into whether you truly are leading with purpose.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with feeling a sense of pride when you see a notification that a complete stranger has liked your page – we all like a little acknowledgement and even a stroke of the ego from time to time.

To know someone appreciates what you have shared is a wonderful feeling and it’s even more meaningful when it comes from a strong desire to impact purposefully.

Become a “social leader”

Sharing posts that inspire and make people think is a great reason for posting. Leaders can and should spread their message and so should you.

Think about how you can become a “social leader” by using social media as a tool to uplift and develop yourself and others. Create posts aligned with your purpose, who you are and what you’re wanting to achieve.

Leading with impact does not start and end at the office or in the boardroom. As a “social leader” you have the ability to bring people together, to collaborate, motivate, and build skills. Social media is one of the platforms you can use to achieve this.