Letting someone save face is crucial! We often overlook the impact of our words and actions on others, riding roughshod over their feelings. Instead of criticizing or finding fault publicly, a few considerate words and understanding can go a long way in alleviating hurt. It’s a principle that holds great significance. Why would we ever choose to expose someone or make them feel bad about themselves when we have the option to let them save face? There’s no gain in embarrassing or hurting someone’s pride. When delivering negative feedback or criticism, we always have the choice of how, where, and when to do it. We can choose to preserve the other person’s dignity and not hurt their feelings or ego.

For instance, if we need to criticize someone, doing it privately avoids embarrassment. If we know we’re right and the other person is wrong, there’s no need to humiliate them in front of others. Even if we are right, diminishing someone’s dignity only destroys their ego. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wisely said, “Hurting a man in his dignity is a crime.” There’s no valid reason to make others feel bad about themselves.

This principle can be applied in various situations. For example, when someone makes a mistake in a group, deflecting attention and expressing understanding can ease the situation. The choice is clear: if we can make a person feel good or bad about themselves, we should always choose to uplift them, considering that many people already have low self-esteem.