How Could I Be Wrong?

I recently wrote about a team dynamic that can happen when people are convinced of their “rightness” and find themselves unable to make progress on an important issue, not because they lack expertise or purpose, but because they seem stuck in a loop of convincing rather than engaging in generative dialogue. This is a very human experience, one we’ve all encountered at some point. It’s natural to feel attached to our perspectives, especially when they are based on our experience and expertise.

One simple (though not easy) practice to help us get unstuck is to ask ourselves “How could I be wrong?”

This question helps us shift from defending our view to exploring it. It encourages us to notice what might be missing and to understand how our perspective fits within a broader context,  including how others see it and relate to it. After all, even the best idea in the world won’t go far if others don’t see its value.

When we assume our interpretation is the right one, we risk blocking ourselves from noticing signals, listening and learning from others, and seeing new possibilities. The end result? We stay stuck. Jennifer Garvey Berger calls this the “Trap of Rightness.” (1) Asking ourselves “How could I be wrong?” as a practice isn’t about abandoning our perspectives, but about holding them lightly enough to let learning in.

(1) For more on the Trap of Rightness, check out Jennifer Garvey Berger’s book Unlocking Leadership Mindtraps: How to Thrive in Complexity and her other work including this blog post, Trapped by rightness