The Right Way to Be Wrong
"I could be wrong; I've been wrong once before."
A former coworker of mine used to say this. Of course, he said it as a joke, but it's also a classic example of 'it's funny because it's true'.
No one would seriously express themselves this way, but it seems to be the attitude many people harbor. I was reminded of this when I read Manuel Moreale's great post, It should be easy to say "My bad, I was wrong". He writes:
Saying "I was wrong" is a sign you're willing to get better and improve.
So true! Making mistakes and being wrong is part of life's learning curve, from the moment we take our first stumbling steps. We learn, develop, and move forward with newfound knowledge and wisdom.
But it's as if our delicate little egos, built on something as fragile as always being right, are afraid of perishing if they admit to being wrong. It's not only a fragile existence but also a very foolish attitude.
Often, when we make mistakes, it's partly because someone else taught us wrong from the beginning. So, it's not just our own ego we're trying to protect but others as well. An impossible mission where the only thing that will self-destruct is ourselves.
Admitting that we were wrong is not only the right thing to do. It's also significantly easier than fighting for the right to "be right."
Let's all do the right thing when we're wrong by simply saying:
Sorry, I was wrong.