"Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do."
Johann von Goethe
18th Century German Author
18th Century German Author
This is one part of the importance of being responsible.
von Goethe is telling us that after all is said and done the only measure of success is having accomplished something. Wanting to do so, having reasons for not having succeeded are not enough.
The other part is being willing to acknowledge when failure is our responsibility; an almost impossible task for many.
I've tried to focus discussion regarding my team failures on the reasons rather than the personalities so we could change the circumstances that led to our collective failure. It helped to a point but for many there was a need to deflect all association with failure no matter how obvious their connection.
What is your experience?
von Goethe is telling us that after all is said and done the only measure of success is having accomplished something. Wanting to do so, having reasons for not having succeeded are not enough.
The other part is being willing to acknowledge when failure is our responsibility; an almost impossible task for many.
I've tried to focus discussion regarding my team failures on the reasons rather than the personalities so we could change the circumstances that led to our collective failure. It helped to a point but for many there was a need to deflect all association with failure no matter how obvious their connection.
What is your experience?
Where I work taking responsibility for failures will get you fired.
ReplyDeleteIf so, you need to leave.
ReplyDeleteIf your management treats every failure as a reason for termination you have no future but even more, neither does that company.
"Taking responsibility" implies to some that the person who does so did something wrong, which may or may not be true. But the real purpose should be to determine why things didn't turn out as hoped and to take corrective action to make sure they do in the future.
ReplyDeleteIf someone repeatedly makes mistakes which cause the business to suffer, they may well have to be let go. However associating being fired with acknowledging that you made a mistake only makes matters worse.