Recently I read a book about success. The very first or second thing in the book was the question, Do you take responsibility for your life? I thought this was interesting from the point of view that we hear individuals young and old who want to push off that responsibility from themselves onto anything else. Then there is the thought that there is no in-between. You either take responsibility all of the time or you don’t.
When we take that responsibility is when we can begin to have success in life, because we recognize that the results we have achieved, good or bad, are the results of the choices we have made.
The same is true with the question of dependability. Dependable individuals make mistakes. But when they do they do 3 things.
- Apologize
- Take responsibility
- Make it right
With the world filled with individuals who are quick to say, “It’s not my fault”, “It’s not my job”, “I forgot”, and every other excuse in the world, it is great to be around people who take the responsibility and in lieu of trying to lay blame, look for ways to solve problems or take on challenges that need attention.
That is what dependability is about. Being honest with ourselves and others, being dependable even when it is not comfortable, not making excuses or laying blame, is the way we act as leaders and we gain the trust of those around us.