Wednesday, 21 February 2024 02:54

The truth about success Jeff Bezos knows that most people don't

Rate this item
(0 votes)

In the fast-paced business world, conventional wisdom dictates that admitting mistakes is a sign of weakness or a loss of power and authority. It also transmits to others that you failed. The reality is quite the opposite.

Here's the brutal truth: Acknowledging when you are wrong and when you made a mistake can be a game-changer for your leadership journey. 

As reported previously on Inc., Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has "observed that the smartest people are constantly revising their understanding, reconsidering a problem they thought they'd already solved. They're open to new points of view, new information, new ideas, contradictions and challenges to their own way of thinking."

In other words, the smart and successful ones admit when they are wrong. As leaders who frequent my musings, I hope you're putting serious thought into practicing this form of intellectual humility.

The brutal truth of it takes one courageous first step: It's admitting when you make the wrong choices while being open to considering other people's ideas. 

The research and the benefits

It takes a lot of emotional intelligence and courage to be willing to expose oneself like this, but the research shows that there are significant payoffs to doing so. A 7-year study involving 12,000 people, published in the book Performing Under Pressure, found that admitting when one is wrong is a rare behavior highly correlated with top performers.

In fact, those in the top 10% of performers were distinguished from average performers by their ability to admit their mistakes.  

Admitting to being wrong also has been found to be positively correlated with promotion. Therefore, when identifying potential leaders, it is essential to look for individuals willing to acknowledge their mistakes.

Acknowledging when you're wrong has many benefits, including breeding trust with teams. Imagine this: You're leading a team and you've made a call that, upon reflection, wasn't the best move. Instead of sweeping it under the rug, you own up to it.

Admitting that someone's idea is better than yours shows your true authenticity and your capacity to be vulnerable when the stakes are high. Your team will respect you more for being genuine. It builds a trust bridge that can withstand the storms of any workplace.

Admitting mistakes ultimately helps you to learn from a great teacher: Failure. When you own up to your mistakes, you're not just admitting a blunder; you're saying, "Hey, I'm learning, just like you." It sets a tone that mistakes are not the end of the world; they're stepping stones to success.

 

Inc

June 21, 2025

SEC bans Independent Directors from CEO roles, caps Chair tenure at 4 years

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has prohibited independent non-executive directors (INEDs) from assuming executive…
June 14, 2025

Tinubu's pardon of 'Ogoni Nine' rejected by Ogoni people

Ogoni activists on Friday rejected a posthumous pardon for nine members executed three decades ago…
June 20, 2025

Warning signs a snake might be lurking around your home: Clues that could save lives

Few things make your heart race quite like spotting a snake slithering nearby. Whether you…
June 21, 2025

Man convicted of posing as flight attendant to fly for free 120 times

A 35-year-old American man has been found guilty of impersonating a flight attendant at least…
June 22, 2025

Female suicide bomber kills at least 24 at Borno food joint in deadly attack

A devastating suicide bombing carried out by a female assailant late Friday night has left…
June 22, 2025

Israel Vs Iran: Here’s what to know after Day 9

Iran must now 'make peace', says Trump after US strikes on nuclear sites Summary The…
June 20, 2025

Nigerian company to make HIV, malaria test kits locally

Nigerian manufacturer Codix Bio Ltd plans to make millions of HIV and Malaria test kits…
May 13, 2025

Nigeria's Flying Eagles qualify for World Cup after dramatic win over Senegal

Nigeria's U-20 national football team, the Flying Eagles, have secured their place at the 2025…

NEWSSCROLL TEAM: 'Sina Kawonise: Publisher/Editor-in-Chief; Afolabi Ajibola: IT Manager;
Contact Us: [email protected] Tel/WhatsApp: +234 811 395 4049

Copyright © 2015 - 2025 NewsScroll. All rights reserved.