Being Right- at all costs

I work in a highly technical environment where many of our employees are very educated and driven. We regularly engage with employees who have a history of being right. They were generally the most intelligent people in their peer groups growing up and are used to having others stop to listen to and follow their ideas. Because of this, and their driven personality, they place a high value on being right. Often they are so intent on being right that they present for themselves two important problems.

1. Their conviction in how right they are creates a situation where they cannot admit that they are wrong. They will change the situation around to prove that what they meant or what they were thinking was indeed correct and therefore, even if what was provided differs from what was requested, they are NOT WRONG. People who behave this way often don't take responsibility for gaps in their performance. They would often rather argue the merits of their point of view rather than get beyond it so they can focus on the solution. These people are often very difficult to work with and, as such, don't enjoy a high level of support from their peers. They dismiss others from their alliance.

 2. These people often value being right so much that all else falls to the side. Every relationship is at risk for these people. I often refer to this as the high cost of being right. It can destroy sibling relationships as well as marriages and relationships in the workplace. Once others recognize that everything else is subjugated to ego, they will withdraw and preserve their energy for other worthy endeavors. I find that among teen-aged, and adult siblings, that this imperative around being right results in nonstop bickering and arguing about every little thing. It makes me think of this video clip. Humility is the prized characteristic. How can we grow, develop, share, love, and nurture if we spend all our energy in being right? I don't want to invest any of my energy into a person who can't see beyond their own selfish desires.