Chew the Gristle: Taking Responsibility Like a Leader

Churchill said, “The price of greatness is responsibility.”

Taking responsibility is the warmth of sunrise. Without it life loses its melody. Avoiding responsibility is tumbling into the grave.

You lose it when you don’t own it. When you don’t own your marriage, it dies. When you don’t take responsibility for your team, it flounders. Taking responsibility is vitality.

Taking responsibility:

Failure you don’t own returns like a nagging pimple. Own it or repeat it.

Take charge of your responsibilities before someone else does. Own it or lose it. Face the disappointment you cause others. Don’t explain why you’re mediocre. You insult yourself when you trample the people who trust you.

Taking responsibility means chewing the gristle when it’s easier to spit it out.

Responsibility for failure:

It’s self-centered to take failure personally. “See how I’m struggling.” You lower yourself when you beat yourself down. Lift yourself and inspire others.

Say three things when you fail.

1. I’m learning to…. (Remember you are always learning. You have never learned anything.)
2. I’m learning not to….
3. Next time I’ll….

Excuses:

Someone said an excuse is the skin of a reason wrapped in a lie. No excuses. No blaming.

An excuse validates failure and drags incompetence into the present. Everyone who tries fails. Our trouble is we don’t fail enough. Lack of failure empties life of vitality.

An excuse is another way of saying don’t change anything. Don’t expect much from me.

Fear of failure:

Those who don’t fear failure – at least a little – end up failing. A little fear brings you to life.

Fear of failure is concern for reputation. You don’t want to feel embarrassed. More important you don’t want to disappoint yourself.

What idea in today’s post can you carry with you through the day?

What would you add to today’s post?

Still curious:

How to Navigate the Gap Between Responsibility and Ability

An Elegant Accountability Practice for Today

Developing Personal Accountability – Taking Responsibility to Get Ahead

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Previously Published on leadershipfreak with Creative Commons License

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