Admitting You Are Wrong

 It is really hard to admit when you are wrong.  Really hard.  In almost every situation, it’s tough to swallow the pride (in whatever the decision) and say it out loud.  “I was wrong.”   That’s why most people try not to do it.  It’s so uncomfortable that many people will cling to incorrect assumptions forever.  They will work to find new, and often creative, ways to look at the information a different way to tell themselves a different story. And the longer we cling to our truth, the harder it is to abandon it.   That truth could be political.  That truth could be about people in your life (both good and bad).  The truth could be about a project you are working on.  In any event, the sooner you get to the real story, the better and happier we will be. That’s why I admire people who change their mind.  This is not a weakness.  It’s a strength.  It takes wisdom to be hard on our own opinions.  That’s why most people don’t do it.  It takes courage to publicly change your mind.  It takes strength to say we failed.   But the sooner we can let go of things that don’t serve us, the sooner we can grow. And here’s the thing:  In the moment, admitting our failure feels like a weakness.  But in the eyes of those around you (at least the strong ones) it is recognized as a position of power.  Good people respect a person that can admit they missed the mark.   There is just one caveat, of course.  You have to learn from it. No one needs someone who just runs around making the same mistakes over and over.  If you were wrong, take a step back.  Learn from it.  Grow.  Then you will find it’s easier to admit it the next time. Never miss an update!  Sign up for our VIP newsletter here!  

Written by: Kirby Hasseman

Kirby Hasseman is the CEO of Hasseman Marketing & Communications. Kirby hosts a weekly Web show called Delivering Marketing Joy where he interviews business leaders from around the country. Kirby has published four books. His most recent is “Fan of Happy.” His book, called "Delivering Marketing Joy" is about doing “promo right” and is perfect for people in the industry and customers. He also wrote “Think Big For Small Business” and “Give Your Way to Success. All are available on Amazon.