When being right makes things go wrong

One personality trait common among physicians is the need to be right, John P. Franko, MD, writes. But aggressively pushing to "win" an argument is counterproductive if it harms important relationships, especially with people who are at higher levels of authority.

When you find yourself in conflict with a colleague, pause and ask, "Is it more important to be right or effective?” If the goal is to maximize impact at all levels of an organization, it's more important to be effective.

As the current political discourse has shown, different people looking at the same information often interpret it very differently. So be curious and ask questions to better understand the other person's point of view and needs. That helps de-escalate tense situations and facilitate conversation. It may also lead your supervisor and others to see you as a bridge builder and positive contributor, which can help you influence future decisions up the chain of command.

Read the full FPM article: “How to Lead Up in Your Organization.”