100 Ways to Motivate Others

56. Give Up Being Right

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

—Benjamin Disraeli

One of the things that happens with a lot of people we’ve worked with over the years is that when they get promoted to a management position, they feel that it’s very important that everybody sees that they know what they’re doing. 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 ...