It’s easy to equate success with a big ego because we often see accomplished people in the public eye with large personalities. Whether it’s a loud-mouthed captain of industry, an attention-seeking athlete, or an actor who loves their own press, we see countless examples in the headlines every day.

However, a landmark study by psychologist and researcher Heidi A. Wayment and her colleagues found that people who have a “quiet ego” are much better at cultivating productivity, growth, and positive self-esteem. A big reason people with a quiet ego achieve their goals is that a loud ego distracts from the task at hand. People with loud egos spend a lot of time pushing their own way, getting defensive when challenged, and going to great lengths to show themselves in a positive light, which can greatly hinder their progress.

Simply put: a big ego can get in the way of achieving a goal.

The researchers........

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