"I was wrong."
THAT is not a common phrase heard among people in conversation these days. It's rare. It's best to save yourself from having to say it in the first place. But how? Here's a real life illustration from my life just today:
I was driving back to my office and wanted to call in to let the receptionist know I was running a bit late for a meeting coming up at the office. After several rings, my call went to the voicemail system. "Hmmm", I thought, "we normally have someone always at the phone for that personal touch." I dialed again. Voicemail. I dialed again. Voicemail.
Now at this stage, I could have engaged in what I call "escalating degenerative thoughts": Have we gotten loose in answering the phone? Is the receptionist not doing her job? What do we pay her for? WHY ISN'T SHE ANSWERING THE PHONE?! HOW DARE SHE!!!!!
Fortunately, I didn't go that route (not that I have it all together, mind you). Instead, I reasoned... perhaps all the lines are busy and it's a momentary thing. Perhaps there is a visitor taking up her attention. Perhaps the phone system is out of order.
A few hours later that I received a call from a number I didn't recognize - except that it was one digit off the office number. THEN it occurred to me: I had been dialing the wrong number! It was MY problem! The receptionist was doing her job all along!
It's a good thing I didn't say or do something for which I would have had to say, "I was wrong."
Interpersonal conflict is a category of the Serving Strong Blog because conflict saps the people helper from the energy they could devote to their calling. Learn the art of never having to say "I was wrong" (or if necessary, be sure to say "I was wrong") and you'll be Serving Strong!
P.S. Read this related post entitled, "Learn How To Park A**hole!"
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