Episode 62: The Art of Being a Good Employee - 100% Responsible

Hello my friends, welcome to episode 62. So the last few weeks we have talked about the types of business we can be in (God’s, others, and our own). We see that we only have power in our own business and getting into God’s or others’ can be a very frustrating situation.

So how do we take responsibility for our own business?

When I first heard about the concept of 100% responsible I have to admit it sometimes feels like a hard pill to swallow.

We are surrounded by others who don’t take responsibility for their business.

We are taught very young to place blame on whatever we can.

And I think we also have the tendency to take on responsibility for other people’s business and they are often willing to had us the responsibility if they can so taking responsibility for our own can just feel too hard.

But we are in the feeling business here.

We do the hard things because they are the things that move us forward.

And 100% responsible for our business is where it is at.

I once heard a story about 100% responsibility where workers were responsible for getting packages to clients.

And they had a horrible track record.

Packages were incomplete.

Packages arrived late.

When they asked the employees to take responsibility for it, they of course turned to blame.

The orders were made wrong.

The shipping company wasn’t on time.

When we live in blame like that we don’t make any changes.

And ultimately the problems continue and we just can’t figure out how to fix them because they are always someone else’s responsibility.

But when they stepped out of blame and took responsibility for it, what did they have to do?

They confirmed the orders.

They followed up with the shipping companies.

They sent the orders early.

They checked in with the clients to make sure they had what they needed.

When we take 100% of the responsibility we get creative.

We figure out ways to make sure things happen.

We expect the shipping companies to have trouble.

We expect challenges.

But we don’t just complain about how they should be better and don’t adjust our processes.

Now, this can apply to every level of position.

Imagine working for a manager that took 100% responsibility.

If there was a mistake in a presentation that a member of their team made, they were responsible.

If there was unrest or dissatisfaction in one of their team members, they were responsible.

If there was an angry client, they were responsible.

Just think about working in an environment where blame wasn’t a thing.

Everyone took responsibility for their work and crap doesn’t get thrown at each other and it doesn’t roll downhill.

That is an organization that everyone wants to work at.

Think about this concept of chasing cattle.

What if the cattle handler was 100% responsible?

Cattle were just being cattle. If they went the wrong way, what if the handler was responsible?

No need to get mad at the cows.

But I imagine that facilities would get repaired or rebuilt if the handler was responsible.

They would be more open to feedback and want to improve as a cattle handler.

We act differently when we take responsibility for things.

We can make big changes when we take responsibility for the things that are ours to be responsible for.

I know this is work.

But it will help you be more successful and effective if you practice the skill.

Another way I have heard this taught is, It is all my fault.

Now think about that.

If a problem is your fault, then you are the one that can fix it.

If a problem is other people’s fault, then you have to convince them to fix it.

Now where we get off the rails with this, is we think if it’s our fault, then we have to do all the work to fix it.

Not the case.

Get creative.

Think about that company sending packages.

They didn’t drive the packages across the country themselves because the shipping company was inconsistent.

But they figured out a way to get the packages there on time.

This is the work.

There is no one to blame.

Take responsibility for it.

Then go figure it out.

It will be fun.

Have a wonderful week.