It's All My Fault!

Today when I was working out, I was thinking about writing a post about personal accountability, how it's all my fault for everything that happens to me. I use the word fault purposely, because most think of fault as a bad thing. Personally, I think of fault as an opportunity for improvement, and is something I have control over. If something is MY fault, that means I can change it. Feel free to disagree with me.

So anyway, I was thinking a lot about writing this post. So many people don't own their actions, their attitudes, or their life. I see it every day at work, I see it on TV, and I read about it on the Internet.

IT'S NOT MY FAULT that the company blew up...(insert CEO who ran company into the ground here)
IT'S NOT MY FAULT that my job was outsourced...(insert displaced workers excuse here)
IT'S NOT MY FAULT that I didn't meet that deadline...(insert many workers here)

Before I could write the post, I see my good buddy Chris Bailey write a post called Take The Mea Culpa Bus. Chris shares that his wife told him about someone she used to work with who got fired for both not adhering to policy AND thinking he was above those rules as an assistant manager.

To me, this is WORSE than not accepting fault. As a manager, you are held to a higher standard, and you must perform at a higher level. All eyes are ON YOU to demonstrate the right way to do things to your team. If you aren't willing to do what policy states, then YOU are WRONG! It's that simple. Notice I didn't say you have to AGREE with what policy states, only DO what policy states. Do I like that fact? No, not one bit. If I don't agree with a policy, I would love nothing more than to jump up and down and say "NO WAY! That stinks. Drats!" The fact that I don't do that is what makes me a leader. Not a manager, a LEADER. Leaders don't just whine and complain, they find a way to change policy, quietly, or they find another job. It's that SIMPLE.

But I digress...Chris offers some great insight into how we should handle mistakes. I think Chris starts off with a great comment that sums up how I feel about failure: "How we react after those stumblings reflects on our own sense of leadership character. What should we do when we fall?"

GREAT QUESTION!

I can't say anything better than Chris does, so I won't try to. I encourage you to go check Chris' answers out, and hopefully you can learn from your mistakes. Just like I am still learning from mine. Hopefully this former co-worker learns from his.

NOTE: I fail all the time. Being a jerk about the fact I screwed up does NOT help. Trust me!!! I used to be the guy Chris talks about, and people were GLAD to see me leave companies in the past. I'm a lot more humble about my failures now, and I share Chris' article so you can learn to be more humble to, before it's too late and you are fired like Chris' former co-worker, or before people cheer your departure, like they did once for me.

Make it a great day!
Phil

Phil Gerbyshak
http://makeitgreat.org


Technorati Tags: mea culpa, fault, blame, responsibility, accountability

Comments

[Timothy]

Phil - this is a tough pill to swallow. I have a small handful of very difficult people in my life who completely abdicate accountability for extremely visible mistakes that they make. I've been forced into a position of stating to the broader stakeholders "If I made a comment that was misinterpreted, I am truly sorry and will take accountability for not communicating more clearly." Surprisingly (or maybe not surprisingly) this has raised my stock with the others in my life, who have witnessed the finesse with which I deal with the difficult people. Sometimes starting with an apology (even if round-about) can help.

[Phil Gerbyshak]

Timothy - Thanks for your note. I completely agree with you. When others make a mistake, and aren't willing to own up to it, sharing in the responsibility can definitely place you in a more favorable light, and as one who can handle the "tough customers." I didn't mean to suggest that isn't a good path to take, rather that when I make mistakes, I own up to them, and I encourage others to do the same. Whether they do or not is up to them. If my tone in the article sounds otherwise, it wasn't meant that way.

This one is all about *personal accountability* not accountability for others' actions is all.

[Pet Campbell]

Here's a thought Phil..
Perhaps if we teach our Children that they are accountable..
Perhaps in real Adult life they will learn to be..
musing ......