Egoism, the belief in prioritizing one's own self-interest, is a pervasive force in life. While often associated with negative connotations like selfishness and greed, a healthy dose of egoism can be a driving factor for individual success and organizational growth.

The truth is that we are all inherently selfish to some degree

The real challenge, however, is to achieve a balance of "healthy selfishness" that allows us to focus on our goals without selfishness getting in the way. Apart from the negative impact egoism can have in our lives, here are arguments in favor:

Individual happiness: Egoism, when balanced, can help us achieve personal fulfillment and happiness. When we focus on our own needs and goals, we can attain a greater sense of satisfaction in our lives.

Economic efficiency: Some claim that egoism can drive economic growth and innovation. When individuals are motivated by self-interest, they may be more likely to take risks, create new businesses, and develop new products or ideas.

Motivation: A healthy dose of self-interest can drive us to work hard and achieve our goals, even if this motivation derives from self-focus and the intent to do something good for ourselves.

Self-preservation: Egoism can be seen as an instinct for self-preservation. By prioritizing our own needs, we may be better equipped to survive in a challenging and demanding world when our attention is always somewhere and the need for concrete boundaries is more important than ever.

That said, egoism also has negative consequences. It can lead to social problems, such as inequality, conflict, and a lack of cooperation. In multiple situations, it is important to consider the needs of others and to act in a way that benefits the community as a whole, which egotists tend to ignore.

Whether egoism is good or bad depends on each situation and each individual's values. There may be times when it is appropriate to prioritize one's own needs, but it is also essential to be mindful of the impact of one's actions on others.

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However, things can get tricky when it comes to the workplace and egotist people. It doesn’t matter whether the egotist is your team member or your manager; a person's arrogance and know-it-all attitude can harm morale and team spirit. People who show extreme egoism in the workplace tend to create a hostile and toxic work environment, making people feel incompetent or reluctant to share their thoughts and end up showing decreased performance. According to experts, it’s not that challenging to notice selfish and egotistical behaviors, and egocentric people can’t help but show where they stand.

Here are 5 toxic phrases that experts say are often used by egocentric people and those who generally feel entitled that "the world owes them" in a professional environment.

"This comment offends me"

Egotists interpret any constructive criticism of feedback as a personal attack. They refuse to accept the reality: there is always room for improvement and growth. They believe they can make no mistakes, which makes them hypersensitive and touchy to any suggestion that their work may be open to improvement. If you are a manager and try to give some constructive feedback to a team member and they find it offensive, then you probably have an egotist in front of you. On the other hand, if you express your opinion to your boss/manager/supervisor and they immediately shut you down, stating that this is offensive, then you hit the narcissistic boss jackpot.

"My ideas are valuable and worthy of serious consideration"

No matter how mediocre they actually are, egotists tend to assume that they always deliver excellent work. They show complete ignorance of the fact that most ideas, opinions, and proposals are flawed, regardless of the effort we invest in them, and they are incredibly competitive towards anyone who dares to challenge that. They also tend to impose their ideas and modus operandi on the rest of the team members, expecting them to be adopted immediately.

"Their success comes at the expense of mine"

A very selfish person tends to be less successful than someone who channels his self-centered tendencies to help others. Since they cannot see the value of support, they believe that others' victories are unfair and the result of special treatment. If you are about to get a promotion or be praised for a successful project you carried out, beware of the selfish colleague who is waiting in the corner: they will try and undermine your efforts because they simply think that when someone succeeds, they have lost something.

"Why are you always trying to control me?"

Toxic egotists dislike bosses who give instructions or have clear expectations from their team. To them, a manager's instructions are, at best, merely suggestions or, at worst, an attempt to mistreat them. They believe they are above all, and any guidance is not well-received. If you are a manager and you have to give instructions or advice on any project, or if you work with an egotist colleague on a project, then good luck with providing instructions -it’s doubtful if they will even hear.

"You are disrespectful because you don't agree with me"

Yet another toxic phrase that truly selfish people may use at work. Expecting total recognition and respect for their expertise and ideas often leads them to show little interest in learning from others. So, when someone may have a different viewpoint, they don't see it as an opportunity to learn but as a sign of disrespect. Egotists don’t actually have any sense of what respect is, and most importantly, they cannot even perceive that someone may know something better than them. Let alone disagree.

How to deal with selfish people at work

Selfish people and egotistical people can be a substantial challenge in the workplace. While in your personal life, you can always stop communication and let them go, in a professional environment, things are not that simple. However, there are some tricks to take a break from them.

Avoid them if and when possible

Dealing with toxic people, in or out of the workplace, is a recipe for failure. Unfortunately, however, they are among us. Therefore, choose your battles wisely and avoid getting caught up in unnecessary conflicts and arguments. On the other hand, if something offends you as a person and a professional, communicate it without straying from your values. Sometimes, you need to speak up, if only for your own peace of mind.

Set clear boundaries

The importance of setting boundaries is indispensable, whether it involves our personal and our professional life. In case you are dealing with an egotist in the workplace, even when their behavior goes off the rails, make sure to call them to order. At the very least, you can make it clear that their behavior is unacceptable and harmful to your working relationship.

Talk to them about the risks they face

Selfishness has many adverse effects in a work environment, which you can highlight to the egotist directly. For example, you could try saying, "If you only focus on what suits your needs, you're not seeing the big picture. This affects everything and, in the long run, can hinder your development." or, "If you see everything as a personal insult, you will constantly feel frustrated and be burdened by negative thoughts about others. Isn't that exhausting?".

Remember to be prepared that you may not get the response you're hoping for in either case, but, at least, you will give them some food for thought, and they may back off a bit.

If the workplace is becoming too toxic for you, maybe it’s time you started looking for another job.