It is often painful to get rid of our need to be right, but some strategies can help.

• Ask more open-ended questions instead of making affirmative statements. If a comment seems illogical, instead of jumping to conclusions, ask more questions.
• Explore alternative views. Read content from authors that are different from your view. Talk with friends who disagree with you. Then try to understand the opposite view.
• Fail like a scientist. Everything is an experiment and an opportunity to learn.

The need to be right is part of our culture. Often, we don't just want to be right, we want to be "more right" than someone else. The need to be "more right" is mostly based on fear, uncertainty, our desire to be socially connected, and misplaced intellectualism.