Here are some suggestions on how to maintain your sanity when working or living with a person who believes he or she is always right.

    • If the person is a close friend, family member or spouse, tell him or her that you find it difficult to have a conversation when he or she insists on always being right. If the person is a co-worker or, even worse, your boss, approach the situation more carefully. In a friendly but assertive manner, explain to him or her that you feel like he or she is not respectfully validating your own thoughts and ideas. Point out that you value his or her opinion and would like him or her to give you the same consideration. If the person is an acquaintance or a stranger, you don’t need to be arguing with him or her at all. Respectfully remove yourself from the situation.
    • Try to understand the reasons for the behaviour.
    • Keep calm. Getting angry and escalating an argument will not benefit either one of you and you might end up saying something you’ll regret.
    • Pick your battles.
    • Be certain of your position and your facts.
    • Listen carefully to the other person. Maybe he or she really has a valid argument. If not, at least you’ll understand what he or she is saying and can better reason with him or her.
    • Validate the other person’s opinions with phrases such as “I understand what you mean” or “I can see where you’re coming from”. You can then respectfully offer your counter argument.
    • Watch out for statements that sound vague. Odds are the wound-up speaker cannot explain the statements in a satisfactory way. Take advantage of this doubt.
    • Change the subject to disarm him or her, or guide the discussion into more neutral territory. Try to find a topic that you agree on so you can both be right.
    • Recognise when the situation is getting out of control. There’s a difference between a friendly argument and a combative situation where people can become angry or hurt. At that point, rather end the discussion so both of you can calm down. Be realistic. Some arguments are not worth winning if the cost is too high.

There are people who must always be right no matter what you do or say. In this case, you need to change the subject or shut down any argument. This isn’t about giving in to someone with a difficult personality or a stubborn will; it’s about recognising that your own time and mental health are more valuable than proving such a person wrong. That sort of person will never admit to being wrong, so you really are wasting your time trying to win an argument with him or her.

 

Sources

http://www.wikihow.com/
https://healthpsychologyconsultancy.wordpress.com