Check Your Ego at the Door

Pittsburgh Steelers’ Head Coach, Mike Tomlin, has a simple message for his rookies: “Shut up.”

Perhaps his message is not worded as nicely as possible, but his message is simple: There are guys here who have been doing it a lot longer than you, and it would benefit you to humble yourselves and learn from them.

From my view it’s easier for a rookie (freshman, new employee, etc) to accept this message because individuals way too often compare him or herself to others. Remember it’s not about being the smartest/best person in the room, it’s about being the smartest/best version of you. Success should not be found in comparison to others, but rather in knowing you did everything possible to be the best that you could possibly be. According to Su’a (2019) it doesn’t matter how good you are, the number of championships you’ve won, the things you’ve accomplished, the education you’ve received, the number of books you’ve read, or the amount of podcasts you’ve listened to, you’re still under construction and you’re never too good to get better.

The Navy Seals, who are the best in the world at what they do recognize that they are not a final product. They have two signs in their training room. One reads, “check your ego at the door” and the other, “let go of your ego.”

The message here is be open to learning, open to growth, and open to other perspectives to help you become a little bit better (Su’a, 2019).

References

Su’a, J. (2019, July 2). Episode 934; Check Your Ego. Increase Your Impact with Justin Su’a a Podcast for Leaders. Podcast retrieved from http://increaseyourimpact.libsyn.com/page/15/size/25