Cultural conditioning has influenced society that people who are right about things (in general) are strong and capable. And, those that are wrong are weak and foolish.
Atychiphobia is the fear of failing or being wrong. The stress of being perceived as wrong stifles some people from growing intellectually. This phobia is a result of negative conditioning.
Of course, the feeling of being wrong can be embarrassing and stressful. Does that mean you shouldn’t bring your ideas to the table? Resistance to being seen as wrong can create closed-mindedness to listen to feedback to your ideas. You may miss out on opportunities to learn and grow. So, the answer to that question is an emphatic no.
We learn by our mistakes; by trial and error. Thanks to error, we amend and better our ideas. This, my friend, is the upside of being wrong.
We need to understand how being wrong is not a defect or a weakness, but as a sign we are growing and learning. So, be bold. Take your ideas to the table. Receive the feedback with an open mind and enjoy the learning opportunity.
“To err is to wander, and wandering is the way we discover the world; and, lost in thought, it is also the way we discover ourselves. Being right might be gratifying, but in the end it is static, a mere statement. Being wrong is hard and humbling, and sometimes even dangerous, but in the end it is a journey, and a story.”
― Kathryn Schulz, Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error
Conversely, there are those that come to the table with a need to be right. These folks are our “know it all” friends. This mindset absolutely keeps one from growing and learning. To have the opportunity to listen to the ideas of others, one must let go of the need to be right. And, have an open mind before committing to only their own ideas.
Becoming more curious and less authoritative leads to better collaboration and growth for all.
“Its what you learn after you know it all that counts.” — John Wooden