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10 Internal Signs of a Leadership Ego Problem

10 Internal Signs of a Leadership Ego Problem

Some churches have leaders with a leadership ego problem. After all, some people are openly arrogant. Even if they don’t always recognize it, others quickly see it in them. I hope, though, that church leaders would not be among that number. On the other hand, many of us struggle privately with ego. To help you determine if that’s the case for you, here are some signs honest, vulnerable pastors have shared with me over the years:

10 Internal Signs of a Leadership Ego Problem

  1. You get jealous when others have a bigger church than you do. The jealousy’s especially acute if you believe you’re more gifted than somebody else.
  2. You don’t usually talk about it, but you want others to know how hard you work for the gospel. This desire for affirmation is often also an expression of pride.
  3. You think about subtle ways to talk about your church when it has a high attendanceEven if you never say anything, you wish you could.
  4. You don’t understand why only big church pastors get invited to speak. This issue is a systemic issue in some denominations, but our own feelings about it sometimes reveal pride.
  5. You’re always watching for opportunities to move to a more prestigious ministry. You keep your ears to the ground even when you love the current church you’re leading.
  6. You internally judge everybody when they preach or teach. Honest, helpful critique is one thing; always finding something wrong with everyone else’s efforts is another matter. It’s pride.
  7. You fight against name-droppingAssuming you know some well-known leaders, the fact that you battle against letting others know is also evidence of pride. You fight it because it’s real.
  8. You’re fairly certain that most other people aren’t as smart as you are. You probably don’t say it that openly, but you still think it.
  9. You talk yourself out of accountability and vulnerabilityYou know that both are important, but primarily for people who are just losing battles. They’re not for you.
  10. You don’t spend much time in personal, private prayer. Non-praying leaders are essentially saying, “I can handle all this on my own.” That’s ego.

What other signs might you add? Where do you see yourself in this list?

This article originally appeared here.