I hate making a mistake I don’t know I am making.

Have you experienced where in hindsight you say, “Why did I do that? Didn’t I know better?”

Of course, you didn’t or you wouldn’t have done it. It is always disheartening when you think you are doing the right thing to find out in the end it wasn’t.

“Those who think they know, don’t.” – Edward de Bono

Here are some tips to help in this dilemma:

1. Listen to those around you. Don’t assume you always know even if you think you are right. At least listen and acknowledge their points.

2. Ask for other people’s opinions regularly. Be humble when you ask, people know you well may never tell you their opinion because they realize you at best just tolerate their opinions. Humility helps solve this problem.

3. Realize there is more than one way to solve a problem. Even if you are convinced yours is the right way, acknowledge that almost without exception there are other ways!

4. Be willing to say when you don’t know, “I don’t know.” In spite of what you may think this elevates you in the eyes of others and not demotes you.

Do you have any tips on how to avoid the mistake you don’t know about?