Yeah, there is very thin line of distinction between ego & self esteem.

These two terms are largely subjective to the culture & hence perception too....but don't you think that even saying I'm egoless, Selfless & expecting others to count that on you & further expecting them to follow for the same to you makes you egoistic??

In my mind
Ego, is a false impression one has about themself.
Self esteem is knowing ourself well enough to honestly know our good
attributes, and our faults.

True.

If I have the impression that I don't have an ego despite of having it (though in other's view) then it's a Bego ( big ego )

If you have no EGO(no "I"),you can't have any Self-esteem,since nothing would be there to esteem!

Of course, that is just stepwise difference of same ladder...still one need to know the distinction between the two.....

To elaborate more...I would like to present a commonly faced example.

like...some people just due to their gender or age expect everyone to treat them with respect irrespective of their own behaviour.

Despite of their grown up age they wish to be childish, they behave childishly (ohhh...and there the excuse / claim is that they are so selfless and egoless to be just innocent(!!) like a child!!!)
and even if a significantly younger person is calling them as uncle / aunt respectfully they consider that as their insult!!

However he/she may think of him/herself egoless / selfless, how would the counterpart think same about him/her after such interaction?

Well, that's just an example (commonly seen),we all regularly come across many such people with such biases about themselves in may be some different terms...they think & they tell repeatedly that they are selfless or egoless & on times if you even intend to debate on some technical issue, they are ready with their some sarcastic & irritating answers & ignorant behaviour.

Bro, I got an ego
Yo, talkin' to me? No
Oh
'Cause Rob is in the front, EZ Rock is on the Back up
We're not soft, so you better just slack up
'Cause I'm cool, calm just like a breeze
Rock the mic with the help of EZ
Rock on the set, the music plays
Only cuts the records that I say

ego is only how we see ourself, we all have a self perception

it may be humble or overinflated , but its there

and we cant be completely selfless and survive.

I hope for others to show the consideration they are shown.

i'm a bit confused about what you are getting at..... but from what i understood and from what i know, my opinion...

1. no one can be ego-less... strictly speaking, our psyche is made up of id, ego, and super-ego... and character traits of our ego are built upon the recognition of self as an individual... i agree with both pancho and msharmony... ego is our view of ourself, which can be over or under estimated, depending on various factors, like you said -- culture, status, age, experience, etc

2. self esteem is a positive character trait that has to do with integrity and recognizing one's own dignity as an individual

3. the scenario you have described seems more like that of feigned innocence or pretentiousness, and has less to do with self esteem, and more to do with self interest

Seems to me as more of a generation gap issue within a company structure rather than ego problems. Egos are precious. Working with them, finding the right balance as they say; is something we keep learning all the time.

I for one cannot digest if some young talent were to call me 'Uncle'. Watch out. I could have been in the pioneering team that built your company.
(Ego sure has a tone).

And the 'tantrums' that you mentioned? Is it not an indirect manner of showing an 'exasperation' because the YTs are not coming up to their expectations?

The good news is we seniors are going to retire early; and what recent studies have shown is that as a generation retires; the experience / maturity level of the organization also retires / diminishes a bit.

Make sure this does not happen. Give them their due; even if it takes quite some effort & patience. Who said, life was easy.

i think its not so much an ego issue that you are referring to, but an hierarchy issue... ego may be part of it, but status in terms of age and position are more involved...

I agree its a fine line..one can see oneself with a huge ego: I am better then all you, I am beautiful, I can do everything better, I am the smartest

One with great self esteem : I am the best person I can be , I feel like I look great today, I do my best at everything, I can be very smart at times

I dont think claiming to be egoless ,selfless ect. makes you egotistic simply because if you are "egoless" you wouldn't presume someone is following you to be the same, you would just feel that that person is similar to you.(Egoless)

yeah clearly it does. it certainly does not display any humility.

your EGO is YOU.
It is up to you what you fill it up with!
The responsibility is yours!

Let's follow this logic step-by-step, (& corrections are welcome).

1. My EGO is ME (self esteem within me).

2. I can 'Fill it Up' (so that's a second ME)
Let's say I get a promotion;
my self esteem grows

3. The Responsibility is Mine (A third Me)
Yeah, try to make sure that my growing self esteem is not hurting
my colleagues. Still, a little arrogance is inevitable.

Now let's say situation reverses; & I get 'fired'
(what-so-ever reasons)
4. then my self-esteem needs to be 'Drained'
Aha,
easily said, difficult to do.

But if the hard days go on for a longer time
then my Ego dribbles out slowly.

And then I get the new job
and the cycle starts again.

Booze has a similar effect.
--xx--
Okay, I see it,
the Responsibility is mine in what I fill it up with.
Booze or Brownies.

In other words, once filled; the die is cast.
Thanks.

Man, I wish these things were taught in schools
a bit late for some of us.

I think what this is about really, is the error of mixing metaphors and word definitions, without realizing that they are being mixed. Hence, logical disconnects and confusions.

The use of the word Ego to refer to the sense of self, self identity, is being mixed up with the use of the word Egotistical, as in valuing oneself out of proportion to the situation.

Then things are mixed up further, by adding in the philosophical idea of denying the Ego (in the sense of feeling more important than the society one is a part of) as a strategy to insure that choices made, are selected for the overall betterment of the whole society, rather than for the sole benefit of the individual. And then topping THAT off, with the observation that some people become VERY egotistical about the importance of denying the Ego.

I think if we used different words for each thing, it would have been more obvious.

It sounds contradictory and hypocritical to declare egotistically that everyone needs to deny their egos. Actually, it isn't at all, provided we change the words used appropriately to say instead, that it's important that everyone recognize that the greatest good for the individual is actually achieved, when the good of the WHOLE to which the individual belongs, is the guiding principle for all decisions.

And it certainly takes a strong and firm Ego, to show leadership towards that concept.

Well spoken Panch

in my mind
I think we all understand that Ego and Self Esteem are 2 different animals. They are antonyms. But no matter if you say Ego or Self Esteem, you're talking about attitude. So forget all the psychological mumbo jumbo (unless of course your psycho) and realize that when someone talks about someone with an Ego, He's not talking about a good attitude. Self Esteem is confirming to yourself (as Panch so correctly stated) your good attitudes. For instance, Golf raises or lowers you're self esteem by playing good or bad respectively. When you're at your peak of your game you are full of self esteem. But when you overplay it into greater than it truly is, then they say "he's developed and Ego".

I wish we had a newer, less drug fueled definition, then Freud's. Dude was a nutter, imho.