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Sandesh Mestry
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The right answer syndrome is a way of thinking in which people want to be right and don't like to be wrong or have healthy disagreements. It comes from a deep-seated need to be accepted, which is often shaped by society and culture. It's something we learn to do as we grow up.
Traditional education systems often emphasize getting the right answer than teaching people to think critically and explore. This focus on right and wrong can cause people to be afraid of making mistakes and make them less willing to have open conversations. Society tends to shame people who fail, and being seen as smart or knowledgeable is very important. People can be afraid of failing and being judged, which can make them want to find the right answer to protect themselves and be accepted. The need for outside approval can make people want to be perfect, which can lead to the right answer syndrome. The constant need to be right can stop people from growing and make them less willing to consider other points of view.
The right answer syndrome has bad effects, like making people think rigidly and giving them little room to think about other points of view. This lack of openness slows down personal growth and stops people from coming up with new ideas and being creative. People limit their chances to grow when they put being right ahead of learning and improving themselves. They might not try new things or take on new challenges, which could lead to stagnation in both their personal and professional lives. When people only care about proving that they are right, they often forget how important collaboration and different points of view are. This makes it harder to come up with new ideas and work well as a team.
It makes it harder for people to talk to each other and reinforces confirmation bias, which makes people look for information that backs up what they already think. This makes them biased listeners who can't hear and understand different points of view. When people with the right answer syndrome hear different points of view, they may get defensive or react emotionally. This makes it harder to talk and constructively share ideas.The right answer syndrome can lead to echo chambers, which are groups of people who agree with each other and reinforce each other's beliefs without questioning them. This kind of polarisation makes it hard for people to have healthy debates. It can also encourage narrow thinking and hurt relationships and trust.
When people are too focused on being right, it can be hard for them to understand and empathise with other points of view. This lack of empathy hurts relationships and breaks down trust. The right answer syndrome can make it hard to solve problems and make good decisions. When different points of view aren't taken into account, solutions may not be the best or may not address the complexity of the problem.
Through social media echo chambers, what you say gets echoed back to you. Online platforms often contribute to the "right answer syndrome" by making "echo chambers" where people only see information that supports what they already believe. This reinforces closed-mindedness and makes it harder to hear different points of view. When people disagree healthily, it can be uncomfortable because it challenges their deeply held beliefs. Many people would rather not feel uncomfortable, so they choose confirmation bias and avoid cognitive dissonance. Society puts a lot of weight on people in positions of authority and on following the rules. This can make people less likely to question the status quo, which can keep the "right answer syndrome" going.
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How do we get over the stop giving the Right Answer?
To be successful, you need to switch from defensive routines to constructive disagreements. To make this happen, you must:
The Right Answer Syndrome keeps people from growing as individuals and as a group because it makes being right more important than having constructive disagreements. To get over this syndrome, people need to work on being self-aware, having empathy, and having a growth mindset. It's also important to create a culture of psychological safety and learn how to disagree healthily. People can switch from defensive routines to growth-focused conversations by embracing discomfort, controlling their emotions, and using technology. This change makes it possible to question assumptions, see things from different points of view, and use collective intelligence.
Overcoming the right answer syndrome is a transformative journey that leads to personal growth, better relationships, and the collective pursuit of truth and progress. People can create an environment that encourages continuous learning, critical thinking, and new ideas by encouraging constructive disagreements. People can contribute to their growth and the growth of society as a whole by being open to different points of view and having respectful, open-minded conversations.
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1 Comment
Shailendra Dave (IIM) MBA HR Strategist INDIA I MENA I AFRICA
HR Strategy & Transformation I HR Digitization I MENTOR I WORLD HRD CONGRESS HR Consultant of the Year
10mo
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Well said, I think, the need to be always right stems from the need to always confirm or be accepted by the society or family or organisation leaders. A culture of diversity and lateral thinking within families, organisations will help more creative thinking.
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