Sometimes it's better to just nod and move forward.

I'm almost shocked writing that down—it's not something I'd normally say or advise. But I keep reflecting on a certain dynamic at work with a manager who has clout and influence. Not someone who manages me directly, but someone whose words carry weight. And sometimes they say things that trigger my instinct to correct or clarify.

The problem is, offering that correction violates a principle I learned at 11 years old from reading How to Win Friends and Influence People. First chapter: "Don't Criticize, Condemn, or Complain."

A correction can feel like a criticism. And sometimes it isn't warranted, necessary, or even helpful.

What does it gain you if they say, "I think we should do this," and you've already done it? Sometimes I wonder if it's worth just saying, "Yes, we should"—and not even mentioning that it's already been done. Pointing out that you already handled it can come across as dismissive. Even asking, "Could we still be missing something?" might still undermine them.

Sometimes the right move is just to say: "Yes, we should."

Carnegie tells a story that captures this perfectly. He's at dinner with a business associate and a friend. The associate quotes the Bible—incorrectly. Carnegie knows the verse is attributed to the wrong book. His friend starts to interrupt: "Oh, actually, it's—"

Carnegie kicks him under the table. Looks at him hard. Don't.

After dinner, his friend asks why. Carnegie's response: "What good would correcting him do? At best, you embarrass him while he's trying to share something meaningful. He had the stage. He felt good about contributing. And now? It would've done nothing but hurt the relationship."

This is the social calculus—a cost-benefit analysis that goes beyond the facts. If there's no real downside to letting something go, why correct it? What do you actually gain?

And if you do have to correct—do it gently, with alignment. Not just in your words, but in your tone, approach, energy. People feel the difference. It's a lot easier when the alignment is genuine rather than performed.

The instinct to be right runs deep. But sometimes the smartest thing you can say is nothing at all.