Vulnerable is good because it just is. We are all vulnerable. We all make mistakes. Bullet proof and perfect are just silly because they just aren’t real. Anybody thinking they don’t make mistakes are kidding themselves and out of touch with reality.
If you admit error or show yourself to be vulnerable you will connect with others. They will see themselves in your admission. Any quality program has the goal of eliminating errors or reducing waste. The quality manager knows that perfection is not attainable. Striving for it is worthwhile and learning from error is part of the process.
So try adding ‘I may be mistaken but I thought we agreed on….’ If you make yourself sound perfect you are very likely to do the ego tango with the other person who is also drawn into certainty.
Nothing is certain and a lot is random and unpredictable. Being vulnerable and imperfect is reality. If you make a mistake, fess up quickly and correct. Pretending it didn’t happen makes correction very difficult. Some of the world’s biggest disasters happened because people were reluctant to admit a mistake. Don’t join them.
