Taking responsibility for a mistake means more than saying “I did it, but it wasn’t my fault,” when finally backed into a corner. Accepting responsibility requires not shifting blame to another party but taking the necessary steps to make amends.
You witness examples of people not taking responsibility on a regular basis, don’t you?
Your doctor performs an unnecessary exam that you’re charged for without telling you until you get the bill. He tries to deflect responsibility but still expects you to pay the bill.
A co-worker commits to getting some key information for a project you’re responsible for, but doesn’t come through. She says “I got caught up with another project.” But you’re still left in the bind.
A friend lets some gossip slip out that hurts another relationship dear to you, but refuses to correct the mistake, leaving you in an awkward position.
In every case of shifted responsibility, an action was taken – or not – that leaves you in a difficult situation. The offending party, seemingly, walks away unscathed.
We have all experienced the wasted time and frustration dealing with the unwillingness of some people to ever step up and own their responsibility for screwing up.
But when clarity of thought resumes, the question to ask is: “In what situations am I overlooking my responsibility to take responsibility?”
Charles