ATD Blog
Personal Responsibility 101
Thu May 25 2017
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Consider the following factors that workers commonly list when asked to brainstorm issues that get in their way at work:
Consider the following factors that workers commonly list when asked to brainstorm issues that get in their way at work:
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resource constraints— insufficient information, people, material, or tools
resource constraints— insufficient information, people, material, or tools
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limited time—too much work, co-workers not doing their part, constant change,
limited time—too much work, co-workers not doing their part, constant change,
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company policies, rules, regulations, and procedures
company policies, rules, regulations, and procedures
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complacency—“that’s the way things have always been done around here”
complacency—“that’s the way things have always been done around here”
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competing priorities, and too many low priority distractions
competing priorities, and too many low priority distractions
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interruptions
interruptions
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conflict among team members
conflict among team members
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unavailability of managers and leaders
unavailability of managers and leaders
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unclear lines of authority
unclear lines of authority
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too many managers (I answer to too many different people)
too many managers (I answer to too many different people)
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inconsistent message from various leaders.
inconsistent message from various leaders.
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I’m sure you can you think of recent examples of many of these. Think of one example you’ve experienced recently. It is very easy to focus on the extent to which that factor outside your control constrained your options and left you feeling powerless. Right?
I’m sure you can you think of recent examples of many of these. Think of one example you’ve experienced recently. It is very easy to focus on the extent to which that factor outside your control constrained your options and left you feeling powerless. Right?
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Now, let’s conduct a little exercise. First, thinking about that moment, ask yourself:
Now, let’s conduct a little exercise. First, thinking about that moment, ask yourself:
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What did YOU do? (Usually the answer is “nothing.”)
What did YOU do? (Usually the answer is “nothing.”)
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What could YOU have done differently in retrospect?
What could YOU have done differently in retrospect?
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What were your options?
What were your options?
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What thoughts, words, and actions could you have taken?
What thoughts, words, and actions could you have taken?
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Next, ask yourself:
Next, ask yourself:
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Can you anticipate this factor getting in your way in the future?
Can you anticipate this factor getting in your way in the future?
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What will be outside my control?
What will be outside my control?
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What will be inside my control? (My own thoughts, words, actions)
What will be inside my control? (My own thoughts, words, actions)
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What options might I have?
What options might I have?
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What concrete steps will I take to make the greatest contribution I can?
What concrete steps will I take to make the greatest contribution I can?
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We call this set of questions “response power.” Learning to use “response power” is a very powerful way to learn and grow when it comes to taking greater personal responsibility. The idea is to think about those times when it feels like “there really is nothing YOU can do” and then reframe those situations to focus on the fact that there is always “something YOU can do.”
We call this set of questions “response power.” Learning to use “response power” is a very powerful way to learn and grow when it comes to taking greater personal responsibility. The idea is to think about those times when it feels like “there really is nothing YOU can do” and then reframe those situations to focus on the fact that there is always “something YOU can do.”
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Bottom line: Focusing on that moment of feeling powerless and finding answers to these questions is the key to teaching young employees how to increase their sense of personal responsibility.
Bottom line: Focusing on that moment of feeling powerless and finding answers to these questions is the key to teaching young employees how to increase their sense of personal responsibility.