It’s so easy to fall into the justification trap, rationalizing things that you’ve done or steps that you’ve taken as a means to either deflect problems or to simply not accept what has happened. These rationalizations can not only make it difficult to see the path before you clearly, but also for you to accept the truth.
Taking responsibility now can save you explanations later. Being accountable now means that what should be done, actually will. It’s a rare quality that is often overlooked, but it’s application is paramount.
Think about Andrea’s business for a moment. This past quarter was tough for Andrea’s business. Products that she invested in weren’t selling like she anticipated, and she wasn’t sure why. At a meeting with several other clients, the subject of the dwindling sales came up briefly, and Andrea was in a tough spot: what would she tell these potential clients that would help resolve this whole situation?
Andrea thought of potential culprits for this recent dip in sales. Maybe it was because it was a strange time of the year. Maybe it was because they were too expensive. Maybe the products were just not of the quality her customers expected. She continued to question everything and figure out an easy way out, but in the end Andrea accepted what happened in the most straightforward way: the products were just not appealing to her customers as offered.
Andrea explained the situation as directly as possible and the clients were more in-tune with her ability to be honest with them as opposed to her trying to pass the blame onto other people. It also gave her the opportunity to prevent solutions that would steer the profit margin back on the right course. Instead of waiting until the point of no return, she took responsibility, provided answers, and set things straight.
No regrets, no excuses.