Imposter syndrome is a problem with the manager who spends his time chasing after recognition, convinced deep down that he is the greatest usurper of all time. He’s the biggest thief… Other personalities are not necessarily easier to live with, such as the proud. Stuffed with sufficiency, arrogant and often lying to embellish reality, her hidden face is also the one that brings together humanity as a whole: the “ego”. This three-letter word, the “me”, designates the representation and awareness that we have of ourselves. Since antiquity, philosophers have debated this theme, which is transformed into metaphysical reflection (Saint Augustine, Kant), before evolving with psychoanalysis, notably in the thought of Freud. Far from being outdated, this polymorphous concept seems to be an asset for managers. Not for Ryan Holiday who replies that The ego is our enemy (Alisio, 2019) because it “undermines greatness by deceiving its holder”.
Blank canvas strategy
“When you land your first job or join a new company, we are often given this advice: value others and you will be fine. Keep a low profile and serve the big boss,” says the author. Far be it from him to use sycophancy by completely forgetting himself. But he highlights three realities: “you are not as good or as important as you think; your behavior needs to be reviewed; most of the things you know or have learned from books are wrong or outdated.” So he advocates tying up to people and businesses that are already successful, embedding your identity in theirs, and simultaneously moving forward together. “It’s much more rewarding to pursue your own glory, but certainly not as effective. Obedience is the way forward.”
A behavior that “lowers ego at a pivotal time in your career, allowing you to absorb everything without the obstructions that block the vision and progress of others.” It’s about looking for opportunities for someone else or something other than yourself: the team, the company, the society. Return to metaphysics through this hidden door of transcendence and values that are beyond us, but advancing towards a strategic objective: that of “the blank canvas”. For Ryan Holiday, “Helping yourself by helping others; making a concerted effort to turn immediate gratification into long-term benefit. Forget about merit. Bury it so deep you’ll be glad others get recognition for your place. Earn interest in what really matters”.
Among multiple applications, here are five that the manager, freed from his “emotional and selfish” impulse, can implement: find an idea to give to his superior; know each member of your team and not fear the talent of those you hire. Third: do what nobody wants to do. Fourth: identify ineffective actions, redundancies and waste. Finally, produce more than all the others and sell your ideas. “It’s a powerful, rewarding and infinitely transferable strategy.” It can be applied at any stage of his career, at any age. “The person who opens the way is ultimately the one who controls its direction, just as a canvas gives the shape of a painting”.
Always learn
Once you have reached the very top of the pyramid or if you are still in the middle of climbing, it remains either to consolidate your empire or to cover the remaining path. “The ego that leads to jealousy and rots people, young and old, is the evil brother of success,” warns the author. It remains to adopt three attitudes. First, for success to last, “you need sobriety”. Second, “you can’t keep learning if you think you already know everything”. A bit like Genghis Khan whom Ryan Holiday portrays as “the greatest conqueror of all time, because he was more open to learning than all the others”. Finally, reread Seneca, thinking of the Greek word euthymia (“perfect, quiet state of mind”): it is about our own path and how to stay there without being distracted by those who cross it. To be what we are. This is the objective that we have defined, to accomplish as much as possible in the field that we have chosen. Like Kylian Mbappé, it’s back to training three days after scoring three goals in a (lost) FIFA World Cup final.