The Hidden Power of Letting Others Be Right
Influence doesn’t come from winning every point. It comes from knowing when to let others be right so you can win where it matters most.
The instinct to fight every point is strong, but it isn’t about proving you’re right on everything. It’s about advancing the ideas that matter most.
Beaumarchais, the French playwright behind The Marriage of Figaro, understood this in 1782. Facing censorship, he invited nobles, courtiers, even ladies at court to suggest edits. A joke here. A flourish there. A ribbon color for a costume. They left feeling proud of their contributions. When the king later demanded more serious cuts, Beaumarchais had already secured the loyalty of those same contributors. They defended him, forcing Louis XVI to back down.
The strategy is timeless:
Let others be right about the trivial. Ego thrives on small victories.
Preserve your energy for the essential. Defend the core, not the crumbs.
Turn vanity into alliance. When people feel their input matters, they fight for you later.
The most effective professionals don’t need to win every argument. They need to win the ones that shape the future.
Give away the details. Keep the direction.