On Egos in the Room

"Leave your ego at the door."

It's the kind of advice that sounds wise, doesn't it? But is it really?

Remember yourself as a bright-eyed young gun in a bustling agency? The world was your oyster, the agency halls your playground. Maybe you thought, "Shit, this is a pretty good job." All you wanted was to do your best work. God knows we didn't get into it for the money.

Then someone dropped that bomb: "Leave your ego at the door."

Maybe it was on a poster. Maybe a well-meaning colleague brought it up in your first week. Either way, it’s a sentiment I've heard echo through the years I've spent doing this beautiful thing called advertising.

It's also utter nonsense.

I'd argue it's the worst advice you can give a creative. Ever. It sounds like something a suit thought up because his ego was taking up too much space in the room.

But when did ego become such a dirty word?

I'm not talking about arrogance, ego's obnoxious cousin. Or unfounded self-importance. I'm talking about something essential to your job.

Your sense of self-worth. Your unique perspective. Your creative fingerprint.

Your ego is your secret sauce. The fire in your belly. It's the voice that whispers, "This is how I see the world." It's what makes you think, and then pitch, outrageously. It's the backbone that helps you defend your work when the client wants to water it down. It's what makes you say, "Not good enough" when everyone else is ready to settle.

It's all the stuff that makes you, you. And what could make you a fantastic creative.

And they're asking you to leave it at the door?

Instead, guard it fiercely. Nurture it. Feed it. Harness it.

Without it, brainstorms are quiet as churches and decks have all the bravado of a mouse. Without it, you're just a good little soldier who shows up, meets deadlines and goes home. Empty behind the eyes and smiling. Taking instructions, but never thinking beyond them.

The perfect creative? Hardly.

Do you really think any of the incredible writers in the Copy Book left their egos at the door? Take one look at the way they write and you’ll know that isn’t true.

I'd rather have five egos in a room than five yes-people. Five strong opinions. Five unique perspectives. Five different backgrounds. Put them all in a pot and stir.

You can't have a spark without friction. And you can't challenge anything if you've checked your self-belief at the door.

Take ego out of the creative process, and all we do is produce. We comply. We nod along with the loudest voice in the room.

We do not create.

Because that takes something more.

Something they're asking you to leave at the door.

Leave your insecurity there. Your arrogance. Your self-importance. Even your love for mumble rap (please!). But your ego?

We’re going to need that here.