It’s normal to want to be right; it’s part of being human. But especially if you’re in a leadership role, being right shouldn’t be your primary aim. Plenty of people are looking for ways to show that they never make a mistake, but this is often one of the biggest mistakes that a person can make. When you spend all of your time trying to show people that you’re always right, you often look petty, and you’re not focusing on getting the job done. There are a few ways that you can combat the human tendency to show that you’re right, but you should also have a firm understanding of why you shouldn’t make showing that you’re right your ultimate priority.
You Look Weak
If you’ve ever known the person who spends 15 minutes in a meeting explaining to people why they were right all along about something completely irrelevant, you know what it’s like to want to roll your eyes at that person. Spending a lot of time proving your point when it doesn’t matter just makes you look weaker.
You Waste Time
If you’re solely focused on showing others that you’re right, you’re wasting valuable time. Even if you were right on a particular point doesn’t mean that talking about it will help you get the larger job done more quickly. Instead, it actually derails your projects.
There Are More Satisfying Goals
When you put aside a need to show other people how you were right all along, you’re able to accomplish so much more, which is much more satisfying than picking apart other’s flaws. Instead of having a staff or co-workers who ignore you and a list of missed opportunities, you can reach for what is truly meaningful and see your efforts pay off. You’ll experience more of the psychological benefits of having your focus on meaningful objectives, and you’ll experience fewer of the adverse psychological side effects that come with knowing that you were right but never attaining your goals.
Whether you’re the boss or a regular employee, when you spend more time trying to reach a goal and less time trying to prove you’re right, you’ll make a more positive impact on the company you work for. After a while, you’ll also be less likely to need to show other people how you were right.