Leadership decisions often appear rational on the surface. But beneath them something else may be at work.

Sometimes it is purpose. Sometimes it is ego.

Both influence how leaders respond to feedback, handle disagreement, or make difficult choices. The challenge is that ego rarely announces itself. It often appears as certainty, authority, or the need to be right.

Leaders who learn to recognise this inner pull tend to make wiser decisions over time.

One simple way to check this is through a tool I call The Ego–Purpose Compass.

At its heart is a straightforward question to ask before making an important decision: Is this decision being driven by ego or by purpose?

Ego often sounds like this:
• “I need to prove I’m right.”
• “They shouldn’t question my authority.”
• “I can’t afford to look weak.”

Purpose sounds different:
• “What will serve the team best?”
• “What helps us move forward?”
• “What decision aligns with our values?”

The answers may not always be comfortable, but they are often revealing.

Using this compass is simple. Before responding in a moment of tension or making an important decision, pause and ask yourself: What is really driving me right now… ego or purpose?

That brief moment of awareness can change the direction of a conversation, a decision, or even a relationship.

~~~~~~~~~

📌 Many of the ideas behind tools like this come from the insights in my book The Inner Game of Leadership, where I explore how self-awareness shapes the way we lead. Here are the links to get a copy:

India: https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0GJ6W91GM/
Overseas: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GJ6W91GM