Making a choice
Anytime you are offered more responsibility, take it.
Make the right choice: More money is short term, but more responsibility is long term
If you are not given responsibility
Sometimes you are not given more responsibility. If this is the case, you need to find opportunities in neglected areas or by becoming a mentor.
Neglected areas
- There is always some area that is neglected that you can take on and own
- These can be found in areas nobody takes an interest in – these are the “landmasses” in your own growing empire
- If you turn these into fertile ground, you start showing your value
Becoming a mentor
- Volunteer to help the new person
- Always offer help to anyone who needs it, it will help you learn about problem solving yourself
- Become the “go to” person by reputation (but keep it balanced…don’t over-function)
The Pitfalls of Over-Functioning
Over-Functioning refers to the act of taking on too much responsibility which leads to other team members no longer seeing or feeling the need to take on responsibility. They learn to be helpless. The video below illustrates this concept:
Assignment
Please answer these questions in the forum under the topic “Taking Responsibility” before continuing to the next topic in this lesson.
Topic Conclusion
Taking on more shows leadership. The most successful leaders look themselves in the mirror and accept ultimate responsibility for success AND failure
It means a shift in your mindset: If you take responsibility for something, own it. Complete ownership. The quality of being fully responsible for your actions and their results. You are in control of your own actions and by having and using this control, you can determine the outcomes of your actions. You are fully accountable for your success or failure in your career, your family and your life in general. You must take ownership even when things go wrong. You are the leader of your life and probably your family, workforce or organization.
