(Fault Vs ResponsibilIty Field Notes Issue 13) The Line Ep.163

As leaders, we have to be willing to look at things even if we don't wanna see them, even if they make us uncomfortable.

We have to be willing to acknowledge fault and understand responsibility.

And those, those two things are not necessarily the same thing.

They can be, but they aren't always the same, and I think that's one of the things that can get confusing.

Let's say that you're a foreman and you're working on a project and you're managing a team of people, and you're responsible for managing that team.

You give them a task to do, and you send them off to do the work, but they don't do it.

Or maybe, maybe they do it, but they don't do it correctly.

Well, the question is, whose fault is that? I think if you ask most guys on the job site, and girls, whoever, whoever might be in charge, those people in that blue-collar way, that mindset, many of them would just say it's their fault.

'Cause when we're confronted with things and they're not done wrong, or they're not done correctly, they're not done right, um, I have just noticed in the blue-collar world, in the trades world, people are quick to take responsibility.

I mean, after all, if you're the foreman, then you're responsible for the crew, right? But here's the question: Is it really your fault? I want you to look at it a little bit differently.

You have a crew of people who've been hired to perform a job.

You've given them what they need to do the job, you've explained the work that needs to be done, and they understand what's expected of them.

Okay, so they go to do the work.

Maybe they come back, they tell you the job's done, but it isn't.

Now, assuming that you've done what you're supposed to do as the leader, hear me when I say this, is that your fault? No, it's not.

Hear me.

I'm gonna say it again, because if you're listening and you're that guy, it's not your fault.

But here is what it is.

It is your responsibility.

It is absolutely your responsibility.

Just because something isn't your fault doesn't mean that you're not the one that needs to make it right.

It doesn't mean that you can be like, "Well, that's not my fault." And the reality is, if you're a leader, you are gonna deal with things that aren't your fault.

You didn't do anything wrong, but you need to pick up the pieces.

As a foreman, you're responsible for the project.

You're responsible for your crews.

As leaders, we have to be willing to look at things even if we don't wanna see them, even if they make us uncomfortable.

We have to be willing to acknowledge fault and understand responsibility.

And those, those two things are not necessarily the same thing.

They can be, but they aren't always the same, and I think that's one of the things that can get confusing.

Let's say that you're a foreman and you're working on a project and you're managing a team of people, and you're responsible for managing that team.

You give them a task to do, and you send them off to do the work, but they don't do it.

Or maybe, maybe they do it, but they don't do it correctly.

Well, the question is, whose fault is that? I think if you ask most guys on the job site, and girls, whoever, whoever might be in charge, those people in that blue-collar way, that mindset, many of them would just say it's their fault.

'Cause when we're confronted with things and they're not done wrong, or they're not done correctly, they're not done right, um, I have just noticed in the blue-collar world, in the trades world, people are quick to take responsibility.

I mean, after all, if you're the foreman, then you're responsible for the crew, right? But here's the question: Is it really your fault? I want you to look at it a little bit differently.

You have a crew of people who've been hired to perform a job.

You've given them what they need to do the job, you've explained the work that needs to be done, and they understand what's expected of them.

Okay, so they go to do the work.

Maybe they come back, they tell you the job's done, but it isn't.

Now, assuming that you've done what you're supposed to do as the leader, hear me when I say this, is that your fault? No, it's not.

Hear me.

I'm gonna say it again, because if you're listening and you're that guy, it's not your fault.

But here is what it is.

It is your responsibility.

It is absolutely your responsibility.

Just because something isn't your fault doesn't mean that you're not the one that needs to make it right.

It doesn't mean that you can be like, "Well, that's not my fault." And the reality is, if you're a leader, you are gonna deal with things that aren't your fault.

You didn't do anything wrong, but you need to pick up the pieces.

As a foreman, you're responsible for the project.

You're responsible for your crews.