Too often we like to blame others. Sometimes directly, sometimes indirectly. I seem to be witnessing more and more often people not wanting to take responsibility. Be that because they feel it was not their fault or there was someone else that was to “blame” as well, or perhaps they just don’t want to accept the responsibility. This frightens me. People need to “own” their mistakes, but just as important they need to accept responsibility for their actions or the results of their ideas or plans.
These can be things as simple as forgetting someone on an email or meeting invite. Or as large as forgetting to schedule a meeting with a client / partner or perhaps forgetting about turning on the “record” button when asked to video someone’s speech or the activation. Too often I hear “I wasn’t sure if you were interested in the topic or attending the meeting” or “I was being talked to by Sally when I was sending it, and she distracted me… sorry about that”. Or that “I though John was booking the meeting” or “there is so much on my plate right now I missed getting it done”. What I am hoping we can shift to is a little humility and accepting responsibility. These are the answers I am looking for… not excuses or blaming.
- I did miss adding you to the email / meeting. I apologize. My bad (if that is in your vocabulary). I am so sorry. It won’t let it happen again. I will get you a summary of the meeting…
- I know. I am very upset that I forgot to book that meeting / push the record button. Please accept my deepest apologies and please let me know what I can do, if anything, to fix this or make it up. Again, I am sorry.
What we need more of I think in this profession (and world) is humility. I once heard at a meeting I was attending that ‘humility is the soil in which all other virtues grow’. I like that and believe in it. Also, I believe that ‘humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less’.
I cannot accept responsibility for writing either of those as I heard them from others, but I can try and live by them. Let’s also try to gain a little humility and accept responsibility each and every day for our actions and reactions.
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