I regularly misjudge situations because of pride. Especially situations when I am working with people from many countries. Partly because I don’t have much pride.
I reckon I did once. But that over the years I have made so many mistakes – sometimes bad judgements, sometimes because I was over-stretched and didn’t make a judgement – that I have had a lot of practice apologising. Partly because when you are always asking people to do things – as you are in any charitable role – you sort of can’t afford it.
But I have found myself in numerous situations recently when I have had to double take. And spend an enormous amount of time going round the houses concocting ways forward so that people don’t have to back down or admit that they are wrong. So that they keep their pride. The trouble is that it takes so much time and so often delays decisions.
Expressing my frustration the other day to colleagues, they just laughed at me. All much younger than me they seemed to have got their heads around this before they were 52.
1 response so far ↓
1 Linda Parkinson-Hardman // Jul 21, 2010 at 13:22
But Julia, it’s only in demonstrating the ability to humbly accept one’s mistakes that we can really show true leadership I think. The fact that you’re prepared to be open about it says far more about you than the fact that you are making life much easier for your fellow man. Personally, it’s a strategy I adopt myself so carry on doing it, you’ll only be doing yourself a huge favour in the long term.
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