Don’t be so sure of answers before you have them

A new book argues that workers and companies often fail or flounder because ego problems lead to overconfidence, self-absorption and defensiveness.

“There’s a big perception problem,” said Steve Smith, co-author of “BusinessThink: Rules for Getting it Right–Now and No Matter What” (Simon and Schuster, $24.95).

The book, written with Dave Marcum and Mahan Khalsa, says that even when people ask for comment, they often seek an ego massage rather than a hard look at the suggestion.

Sometimes just being more careful with language can make a person seem less egotistical, Marcum said. He proposed asking questions or making suggestions rather than appearing to have all the answers.