Proving I am right has never solved an argument for me. But admitting I am wrong certainly has. It can be a shot to my pride, but when I can muster up the strength to admit I am wrong, the situation always seems to move more smoothly. Less blood is spilled and the anger doesn’t explode. We can save ourselves a lot of energy by simply utter the phrase, “You’re right, I messed up on this one. I am sorry.”
Dale Carnegie reminds us of this in this week’s principle: If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically.
While admitting we are wrong might not fix every problem. There are many benefits to admitting this. These past few weeks we have discussed how to keep disagreements from turning into arguments, the importance of not accusing someone else of being wrong, and now this week we are learning the importance of admitting we are wrong. These are all key principals to keep in mind when we are in meetings planning out our next assignment whether it’s a wedding or going overseas for humanitarian work. We all bring in different perspectives and experience with plenty to learn from one another.
Below are listed 4 benefits that will unfold when we admit our mistakes. So when you get yourself caught butting heads with a client and you come to a point where you need to admit a mistake you made, there is actually something good that comes from it.
1. It displays your character and integrity.
I always admire those who can admit they are wrong. It says so much about their character. It takes a great bit of strength to let go of your pride and accept that you are human and imperfect. Maybe you misunderstood a client, wrote down the wrong time for a photo shoot, or did not photograph a certain part of the event. When you take responsibility for what you missed, you are showing your sense of integrity.
2. It displays your humility.
Taking responsibility for your mistakes takes courage. You have to look at yourself and admit that you are human. And to tell someone who was depending on you to get a certain assignment done that you messed up displays humility. It is a characteristic of someone you would want to work with.
3. It stirs a sense of understanding and respect in the other person.
When others see you own up to your mistakes, it makes it easier for another person to be understanding and show you respect. By admitting you are wrong, you are allowing the conversation to be less about proving one or the other wrong and more about understanding each other.
4. You are reminded that you are human and you have more compassion for others.
Admitting you are wrong can help make you look good, can impact the other person, but it also changes how you see yourself too. Messing up on an assignment is always a good reality check. You are reminded that you are human and therefore you will have more compassion on the person who messes up. It develops a sense of understanding in yourself when you see someone make a mistake like you did.