Chapter 56.
Give Up Being Right

I must follow the people. Am I not their leader?

—Benjamin Disraeli

When people are promoted to a management position, they often feel that it’s very important that everybody sees that they know what they’re doing.

So they twist that into a drive to be right. They think people will only admire them if they’re right about things, and by doing this, they make it really hard for themselves to be human with their people. They make it hard for themselves to admit that they’re wrong and to say to other people, “You know what? You’re right about that.”

A really strong, motivational leader who is admired and respected is one who does not have to be right about anything. Ever.

It is much more powerful to say to someone, “You know, now that I’ve listened to you, one thing I’ve realized is that you are right about that. And I’m going to take some steps to get that done.” That’s a person who will eventually motivate others.

Because being right is never going to matter in the long run. What’s going to matter in the long run is achieving something. I can be wrong about absolutely everything day in, day out, and still be a wonderfully great leader. Why? Because I brought out the best in my people. I’ve taught them to make their own decisions. I have drawn out their strengths, their loyalties, their high performance, and all the numbers have tumbled in my direction.