Is your ego getting in your way of your success?

I was hired by an organization to work with two of their executives.
 
Both had different challenges.
 
One had a challenge believing in themself, speaking up, owning their voice and saying what needed to be said with their executive peers and CEO.
 
The other was challenged with a recent change in organization structure. They previously reported to the CEO and now a peer had become their leader.
 
In the first month of coaching, the first one started thriving. Each week when we met, they were:
 
Open to coaching
Took on the actions they committed to each week
Practiced
 
The other didn’t.
 
They showed up to coaching:
 
Combative,
Unwilling to be coached
Did not take on one single action
Angry that they didn’t get the promotion and now had to report to someone outside of the CEO
 
And the results of that executives team verified that. They were missing huge milestones and not delivering.

They made everything about them, not their team or the overall goals of the organization.

How they were a better:

Fit for that role
Leader for them and their peers

Overall a better choice.
 
Two months into the engagement I met with the CEO to review the progress of the engagement. 
 
He immediately saw the progress being made by the executive and celebrated. 
 
The other remained unchanged.
 
I said the thing coaches typically don’t say.
 
“I recommend discontinuing coaching with this executive. Perhaps another coach would be more effective for them. Based on how it’s gone, I can coach them for the next year and unless they are willing to do the work, it won’t make one difference. I don’t want your organization investing the money that you are for an outcome that is likely not in your favor. 
 
The CEO agreed with my recommendation, and we discontinued one of the two coaching assignments.
 
Two months later that executive was exited from the business. 
 
Their ego took them out. 
 
And it was the best decision for that organization. And for this executive.
 
This executive was excited about being separated. He was ready to start a new journey with a new company.
 
Three takeaways from this:
 
1.  Your ego is a powerful thing and when you can’t see outside yourself - it will take you out
2.  Coaching only works if you do the work. 
 
And
 
3.  Sometimes we need a lil push to do what is going to serve us best. 
 
Where is your ego getting in the way of your success?