It’s not a lack of talent: it’s ego that sabotages more executive trajectories 

The ego in the professional career 

The ego, understood as the need for recognition, status, and external validation, can be a legitimate driver of ambition. However, when it becomes the only filter to decide, it becomes a silent enemy of managerial careers. The temptation to accept a position for the title or for immediate remuneration, without considering factors such as culture, purpose or learning, often leads to unsustainable decisions. 

What the data shows 

1. Ego is a key factor in managerial derailment

Research from the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) shows that more than 50% of leadership failures are explained by interpersonal problems: arrogance, insensitivity, inability to listen, and difficulty working in a team. All of them are symptoms of a poorly managed ego, which ends up eroding relationships and slowing down careers. 

2. Salary hardly predicts satisfaction

A meta-analysis of 92 independent studies showed that the relationship between salary level and job satisfaction is weak (ρ = 0.15). In other words, money explains only between 2% and 15% of well-being at work. Relying on salary as the only decision factor is a clear example of how the ego can deceive us. 

3. The focus illusion: overvaluing status

Behavioral psychology describes the bias of focusing illusion: we tend to exaggerate the impact that an isolated change (a higher salary, a more prestigious position) will have on our happiness. In reality, after a short time the effect disappears, and deeper factors—purpose, culture, autonomy—are what determine sustained satisfaction. 

4. When the ego blocks learning

Overconfidence leads many leaders to reject feedback, repeat mistakes or overestimate their abilities. According to CCL, the lack of openness to learn and adapt is another of the most frequent causes of derailment in managers. 

Conclusion 

Talent, by itself, does not guarantee a successful career. What most sabotages executive trajectories is not a lack of ability, but a poorly managed ego that: 

• Prioritize titles and salaries over culture and purpose. 

• It makes it difficult to listen and build strong relationships. 

• It generates resistance to feedback and limits the ability to learn. 

True career strategy involves balancing legitimate ambition with self-awareness, purpose, and adaptability. Because in the long term, it is not the ego that opens doors, but emotional intelligence and strategic vision.