5 Things You Should Not Do When You Are Wrong
Everybody makes mistakes and sometimes we are the ones on the wrong side of the conflict. There are certain you can do when you are wrong that quickly turn the situation around for good. Conversely, there are things you shouldn’t do when you are at fault because they compound the situation and make things worse.
How you handle a conflict is very important especially where you are the erring party. Your reaction will make the difference is determining whether people identify with your weakness and are able to forgive you quicker or if they become bitter, hardened or seek for ways to retaliate.
Here are things you shouldn’t do when you are wrong:
Pretend as if nothing happened
Many people find especially offensive when you do offensive and you continue as if nothing happened. Unless you do not actually understand that you have done something, pretending as if you’ve done nothing wrong when you have discovered your fault or it has been pointed out to you is in terribly bad taste.
Pretending to be ignorant of wrongdoing can make the difference between the other party letting it go and deciding to take it up and pursue it to its logical end.
Be humble enough to acknowledge wrongdoing when you realize it; this kind of humility often elicits empathy and understanding but when you try to pull a fast one, you may get more than you bargained for.
Talk about the other person’s wrongdoing
If you’re on the spot and the matter at hand is an error that you’ve made, it’s better to allow people to have their say, vent if they have to and then respond with an apology or explanation as appropriate. Trying to deflect attention by talking about all the mistakes that other persons have made at that time is a sign that you’re trying to be sneaky and manipulative.
Such an action will most likely make the matter worse and even if you get away with at that time, you are probably sowing seeds of resentment that may eventually strain your relationship with others. Nobody can stand a person who will not accept wrongdoing, in the long run.
Wait until someone else brings it up
Don’t wait for others to tell you are wrong if you have already discovered it. Volunteer an explanation and/or an apology even before people realize what you’ve done. This makes you a responsible, considerate and peace-loving person.
Get Angry
Getting angry and offended when the errors of your ways are pointed out does not change the fact that you are wrong. It is much better if you eat the humble pie ad take correction so that you can improve instead of getting angry and making things worse.
Getting angry when you are wrong is a bullying tactic. While it may help you deflect the issue at hand, it breeds resentment and may make you lose important relationships. If you do it with someone who is stubborn and less timid, you may create a serious problem that will land you in greater trouble or end the relationship at once.
Play The Victim
When you are wrong don’t play the victim, accept your mistake. Playing the victim whenever people try to correct you is a sign that you are not willing to grow. This kind of attitude tires people out and may make them avoid having anything to do with you.
When people cannot have open and honest conversations with you without any drama, you are courting loneliness. This is because most people will not put up with this and those that seem to tolerate often react in ways that may be subtle but will eventually water down your relationship with them.