Comments on: From the Road: Wrong is Wrong

By: Jennifer Claxton

Jennifer Claxton — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 21:36:19 +0000

My comment is to also remember the other participants. I have been in trainings where someone clearly gives an incorrect answer yet the facilitator agrees or does not correct him/her. That message is confusing for the rest of us in the room who thought we understood, but now another version is apparently being accepted by the facilitator. As important as it is to respect the person who provided the incorrect answer, and to gently and respectfully re-explain something; it is likewise important to respect the other participants who do understand the concept correctly and to not confuse them. The good of the majority requires this action. I squirm with frustration when I hear a wrong answer and think to myself, ‘that’s not right’ only to have the facilitator accept it.

By: Frank Bertram

Frank Bertram — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 16:26:45 +0000

I don’t feel that it is disrespectful at all to tell someone they are not correct, as long as it is done politely. I usually say “No, not really…” and give the correct answer, or ask something that leads to the answer. If a person is so sensitive that they can not be told they are wrong, then they have an issue. When I am the one who is wrong, I readily admit it and move on.

By: Henry Steinhauer

Henry Steinhauer — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 15:23:15 +0000

Wow, Great answer and one that I will cut/paste for future reference. I am in a company that raves about how they work toward agreement and I have often heard this type of follow up given. Later the person who gave the wrong answer and was not told it was wrong, still did not understand that their view was way off base and not even in the same ball park.

I will try this approach.

By: Marie Walker

Marie Walker — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 15:21:32 +0000

Oops — for my second to last sentence, I meant to say, “Can you help me understand how you came to answer y?”

By: Cheri Kearney

Cheri Kearney — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 15:01:33 +0000

Thank you for addressing how important it is to check for understanding, and to redirect instruction when concepts are misinterpreted.
I feel it is vital for a leader to treat people with dignity and respect. Providing affirmation for an incorrect answer is both disrespectful and belittling. As a facilitator, your role is to guide your client towards the correct understanding without injecting terms, phrases, and physical actions that could belittle or embarrass.
To affirm an incorrect answer in front of a group may confuse others and cause them to second guess if their answers were wrongly confirmed.
Clients may walk away thinking either “you don’t really care what their answer is”, or “you feel little to no responsibility for what the group will take away from your program”.
When an audience leaves your program they should feel their time and talents were respected, and feel confident knowing what they have learned is accurate.

By: Marie Walker

Marie Walker — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:24:37 +0000

Or you could have a mini Crucial Conversation with the person who gave the “wrong” answer. For example:

“Okay, the question I asked was x. You answered y. From my perspective, the correct answer is z. Can you help me understand how you came to answer z?”

That makes it a teachable moment, to practice Crucial Conversations skills in everyday life.

By: Tweets that mention Crucial Skills » From the Road: Wrong is Wrong -- Topsy.com

Tweets that mention Crucial Skills » From the Road: Wrong is Wrong -- Topsy.com — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 02:52:23 +0000

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