This is a guest post from Dr. Keith Starcher, a long-time college professor and business consultant. Most importantly, he is the father of my wife, which makes him a big-deal.
Leaders are responsible for the choices they make. Many of a leader’s choices involve tough decisions and difficult actions. Leaders must have the courage to do what they think is right and be willing to accept the consequences of their choices.
When I was president of a company in Ohio, I came up with several (what I thought were) innovative ideas for improving the company. Some worked. Some did not work.
I had to keep reminding myself to give credit to others for those ideas that worked and accept personal responsibility for those that floundered. And then there were those disastrous hiring decisions that I made.
I remember one time hiring a Quality Manager after my staff had warned me of several reservations they had about this individual. I hired him anyway and regretted my decision almost immediately. There was no place to hide. I had made a poor decision and had to deal with it.
In my current role as a professor, I have many opportunities to watch some students attempt to explain poor performance in many terms except personal responsibility (sort of the grown-up version of “my dog ate my homework”). But now I relish working with those students who accept a project assignment and then no matter how many roadblocks they encounter, they accept personal responsibility for their success and meet their objectives.
If you and I will stop blaming others and accept responsibility to move forward, we may find that there are several who are willing to follow us.