People Who Say “Correct Me If I’m Wrong” in Every Meeting
People Who Say “Correct Me If I’m Wrong” in Every Meeting #
Let’s address the verbal tic masquerading as humility: the compulsive “Correct me if I’m wrong” crew. These meeting saboteurs deploy this phrase like a rhetorical sleight-of-hand—a false flag of openness disguising either arrogance, insecurity, or intellectual laziness. It’s not curiosity; it’s cowardice wrapped in corporate-speak.
Hear it once? Fine. But when every third sentence begins with this sanctimonious preamble, it’s psychological warfare. They’re not inviting correction—they’re preemptively inoculating themselves against accountability. If challenged, they retreat behind, “Well, I asked for feedback!” while subtly implying dissenters are pedantic bullies. It’s a power play disguised as politeness.
Worse, it derails momentum. Just as the conversation gains traction—BAM—we’re yanked into a performative detour to validate Captain Obvious’s reheated take. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t the goal… profit?” Yes, Brenda. We’re a business, not a socialist knitting circle. Your “insight” is a participation trophy masquerading as genius.
This tic reveals a deeper rot: the fear of being seen as wrong. So they front-run criticism with faux vulnerability, turning collaborative discourse into a defensive minefield. Real experts say, “Here’s what I think—challenge it.” Frauds hide behind verbal safety blankets, forcing others to coddle their ego before dissecting ideas. It’s meeting karaoke: all performance, zero substance.
And let’s autopsy the subtext:
- “I haven’t done the prep work.”
- “I need you to validate my unoriginal thought.”
- “I’m about to say something indefensible—preemptively gaslight me!”
The damage? Authentic debate suffocates. Colleagues mute themselves, exhausted by linguistic gymnastics. Time evaporates validating platitudes instead of solving problems. And the phrase becomes a crutch for the chronically unprepared—a get-out-of-jail-free card for half-baked contributions.
Enough. Next time someone drops this verbal smoke bomb, strike back:
- “You’re wrong. Moving on.”
- “No corrections needed—just stop talking.”
- “If you’re unsure, maybe prep next time?”
Stop mistaking timidity for tact. If you’re wrong, be wrong. If you’re right, own it. But spare us the performative self-flagellation. The meeting was painful enough without your verbal safety harness. Just. Be. Wrong. Or right. But for pity’s sake—stop circling the drain.
farizal.com