How To Admit You Were Wrong And Not Lose Face
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How To Admit You Were Wrong And Not Lose Face
You've argued adamantly but lost. How do you back down without losing your credibility? This film, with advice from author Irma Kurtz, will show you how to admit you were wrong without losing face.
Step 1: Relax
When you realise you're wrong, you might be tempted to try and bluster your way out of it or make excuses. Avoid this at all costs - this will only make you look more foolish.
Instead, relax. Everyone makes mistakes from time to time, and a dignified awareness of one's own imperfections can attract more long-term admiration than simply being right all the time.
Step 2: Tone of voice
Even if you argued your point adamantly, a dignified retreat is simple.
Maintaining a calm, level tone of voice, simply apologise, confess your mistake, and back down.
Don't raise your voice or use sarcasm; this will seem unreasonably confrontational, and may make other people less likely to respect your opinion in the future.
Step 3: Eye contact
Being wrong is nothing to be ashamed of, and you need to show the other person that it has not dented your confidence.
Maintain eye contact throughout your admission. Looking down will make you seem submissive, while looking away will make you seem shifty.
Step 4: Move on
You might feel embarrassed for a while, but other people will forget the event faster than you might expect.
After making your retreat, move on and forget about it.
Learn from the experience, and next time someone else is wrong, be gracious enough to let them make their own dignified retreat.
Done.