- Leadership - 1st in a Series -
The main lesson here can be summed up in two, simple (but often abused) words: Personal Responsibility. One of the last century's presidents that I greatly respect for his personal integrity is Harry S. Truman. A sign that lay on his desk simply read: “The Buck Stops Here.” The point was that he took full responsibility for everything that happened in his administration—the good, and the bad.
This principle is certainly important for a U.S. president, but it is something that is universally applicable to everyone. If everyone who made a decision that affected someone else said simply “The buck stops here” then we would all be so much better off as a nation, as a business, as a community, as a family, and as a church.
Like so many things in life, there is a simple solution. Not an easy one, mind you, but a simple one. It is a very simple concept to be personally responsible for your actions: it is a very hard one to act out, it is especially hard when it means hurting your pride, your company, or those you care about. It leads to disappointment, sometimes shame, loss of confidence and real-life consequences. But to sit and focus on the bad isn’t being totally fair. There are many, many positive sides to being responsible, things that we, as a culture, seem to have long forgotten. (Harry Truman was president from 1945-53.) It may lead to increased respect down the line, people know that you stand behind your decisions. It shows that you show that you are big enough to admit publicly when your decisions have made things worse, and it also shows your commitment to making those bad decisions better. It shows you are willing to participate in a solution.
If the leadership in our country were focused more on progress and winning the war in the streets not the battle in the boardroom, then the world and this country would be infinitely better off in the long run. What is the first step towards progress? Admitting to wrongdoing—simple responsibility.
We are simply too great a nation to let petty arguments derail us from long-term possibilities. Simple responsibility could and would lead to a better tomorrow for our citizens and the world by setting an example, a gold standard for progress.
Next time when the center needs to hold, you feel you need to guard the flanks, consider hashing it out your adversary, they might—on occasion—be right. Imagine if the buck really did stop with YOU.
To watch the video of Harry S. Truman explaining this principle, click the link below:
Get the Content that's Too Good for Google:
Help keep the truth in business! Google Adsense has officially closed our account due to content violations. We need your help to keep publishing truth. Consider supporting America's most unique, hard-hitting, conservative, Christian news resource, The Portland Post: theportlandpost.net/plans
Contributor(s)
Ian Freeze
Comments