I recently read this somewhere:
Being right is less important than being successful.
This isn't the first time I've heard this idea, but when I read it this time it hit me as profound.
Consider:
- A leader who takes ownership of an idea of a team member, frustrating the team member and damaging trust.
- An argument with a customer that becomes counter productive because being right becomes the primary concern.
I could list other examples, but I'm sure you have thought of your own.
We all have the opportunity to make a choice in these situations. This quotation reminds me of the importance of this choice.
When you feel yourself focused on being correct, ask yourself if that focus is serving your biggest goals.
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Nice post, Kevin. As someone who spent a lot of time as a young man working on winning arguments no matter what, I can attest to two things. First, you can do big time damage to your goals of them moment. I think you captured that well. What's also clear to me some twenty-five years later is that you can also do severe damage to the relationships upon which long term success is built.
ReplyDeleteWell said, Wally - thanks for the comment!
ReplyDeleteI was once told about leadership
ReplyDelete"Don't ask your team to build you a boat. Tell them of the magnificent places they could go to, and they will build a marvellous boat for you.
Kevin –
ReplyDeleteI am always amazed that some leaders (and customer service folks) have a problem saying, “I am sorry” when dealing with difficult or angry customers. I have found that apologizing is a critical (and powerful) step in helping overcome a problem. Unfortunately, in many cases people are more worried about being right than fixing the problem.
Few words can be more powerful than saying I'm sorry. Thanks for your comment Stewart!
ReplyDeleteKevin
My thought is to be right and be successful both are require to be successful person when you know that whatever you said or provided solutions are wrong so don’t be shy or be proudly to feel regretful for the same before customer/client asks because none of person is 100% perfect in the world and that’s everyone know.
ReplyDelete