As managers, we often SAY we want independent thinkers who will challenge us or who will ask lots of questions.

That said, I know of many managers who seem unwilling to change their minds about things. They are unwilling to make accommodations to previous decisions or to say, “sure, I could accommodate that,” or “that sounds like a better plan, thanks.” These managers get entrenched by their initial thoughts and decisions. And I think they believe that if they give in, it means that they were wrong about the situation and that being wrong is unacceptable.

Is it better to be right and hated or to be wrong and respected? Managers who say they welcome questions and opinions but then fail to allow others to influence them are hypocrites and they are often the type of managers that make people want to leave.

From Lisa Haneberg, Management Craft