How to Settle a Conflict When You’re Wrong

In a past organization, I routinely interacted with an employee who just couldn’t bring himself to admit being wrong about anything. No matter if we were dealing with misjudgment about how well a new hire might work out, about the likelihood of a potential contract closing, or about accuracy in data entry, his reaction typically fell along these lines:

—It’s not wrong.

—But if it IS wrong, I didn’t do it.

—And if I DID do it, it’s not my fault.

—And if it IS my fault, someone else caused m...